Ukraine says it is prepared to halt energy strikes if Russia reciprocates, but Moscow has not publicly confirmed it’s stance
President Donald Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate halt to attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the announcement was news to him and that he only learned of the deal on Trump’s social media post.
“The ceasefire announcement was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire Ukraine will agree, the president said. “If president Trump negotiated it with Putin — please tell us when the ceasefire begins — we are ready and we will accept it,” Zelenskyy said to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid.
The declaration came amid an earlier energy move by Trump two days earlier that had already fueled a dispute in Washington since Friday, Oct. 9.
Trump had announced on Truth Social that he had just finished a discussion with Putin and that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to American and global markets immediately. He further added another 500,000 tons would come in November and 1 million tons soon after, with more than 3 million tons within a short period depending on the condition of Russia’s refineries.
Zelenskyy criticized the diesel arrangement in an interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” calling the deal a Trump gift to Putin. Asked by anchor Jonathan Karl why he considered it a gift to Putin:
“Because it gives Putin money and he spends money only on this war. Kill us. Kill our children.”
In the past few weeks, Ukraine has used drones to strike Russian refineries, including facilities producing diesel, while Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian power plants, electricity grids and heating systems.
Trump on Saturday accused Zelensky of being the reason the war has not ended and blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for high U.S. diesel prices.
“Zelensky could have settled this war many times, many many times, and he chooses not to,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.”
Trump thanked Vladimir Putin for his cooperation on the arrangement and said the war would not have started if he had been president in 2022.
In Zelenskyy’s words, Russian forces have attacked Ukraine’s electricity sector over 200 times and its gas and oil facilities have seen more than 20 strikes. He also alleged over 153 civilians had been killed by Russian attacks in recent weeks.
“About energy, I said it to President Trump, to president’s teams, to his team and to his people several times, so we want peace. We are ready for ceasefire. We are ready to begin from any kind of steps of de-escalation. We are ready for energy ceasefire, not to attack energy both sides,” Zelenskyy said in ABC’s “This Week. “
“And if the Russians want us not attack their diesel, their refineries and et cetera, we are asking President Trump, give them signal, not attack energy infrastructure of Ukraine. It’s fair deal. It’s not the best deal. The best deal not — not to have a war, to stop Putin. But the first step is ceasefire, energy ceasefire,” he added. “we are open for this. Don’t attack us. Don’t kill our children. We will stop attack your diesel. And I think it’s fair, fair deal.”
Trump’s proposed diesel deal has drawn criticism from some Republicans and Democrats, while other Republicans defended the administration’s focus on fuel costs and its efforts to negotiate with Moscow.
An earlier ABC News report Trump’s administration planned to lift U.S. sanctions on Russia to allow its new Russia-U.S. deal, although Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren said on Oct. 9 that the administration would permit global purchases of Russian diesel for six months under General License 135.
Responding to Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian president, Zelenskyy has requested Russia to give the country 60 days so its citizens can vote and choose its preferred leader. He also disagreed and pushed back on Trump’s demand for a new leader who can make a deal, saying the choice of leadership belonged to Ukrainians and that holding elections during the war raised security and constitutional obstacles.
“I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law. We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican said. “Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory that they occupied. In fact, it should all go all the way back to Crimea. But at least the additional land that they’ve invaded over the past three years.”
Legislation expanding sanctions and tariff authorities targeting Russia that became law on Sept. 18 has emerged as a flashpoint after the Trump administration moved to facilitate Russian diesel supplies, a step critics said could give Moscow revenue as the war in Ukraine continues.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, argued in a X post that the administration should use the tool instead of direct trade.
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers of Michigan also opposed importing diesel from Russia, as did Sen. Dan Sullivan, who in his campaign argued that increasing U.S. energy production was the better alternative.
AAA data put the U.S. average diesel price at about $6.28 a gallon in early October. Kansas Senate candidate Adam Hamilton separately said farmers in his state were paying $6.40 a gallon. The U.S.-Iran war and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and reduced Russian refinery output after Ukrainian drone strikes have added to factors pressuring energy markets in recent months.
The proposed diesel deal has since drawn criticism from Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who called it a grave error, and Michael McCaul of Texas, warned that easing sanctions would help finance Russia’s war, while Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said he had introduced bipartisan legislation called the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act to block Russian oil purchases and would try to force a House vote through a discharge petition.
“I supported the president’s decision but he doesn’t support his decision to import it from Putin. Vladimir Putin is a butcher. He’s a butcher of his own people. And he’s a butcher of the good people of Ukraine,” Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said
“He will never be our friend. So the president is doing everything he can to get diesel prices down. But you know what’s going to bring diesel prices down? An end to the war in Iran, [Putin].” he added.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren said in a joint Oct. 9 statement:
“President Trump’s announcement that the United States will allow global purchases of Russian diesel for six months, is a total betrayal of Ukraine, our European allies and American national security.”
