WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 — U.S. President Donald Trump announced an immediate “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, drawing surprise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said it was “news” to him.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that “both parties have agreed.”
The declaration came just two days after Trump unveiled a diesel supply deal with Russia. However, Zelensky told U.S. news outlet Axios that Trump’s announcement “was news for me.”
“But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” Zelensky said. On Saturday, Trump said Russia was willing to reach a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine, but accused Zelensky of resisting a negotiated settlement.
He also called for Ukraine to hold an election and choose a new leader who could make a deal with Moscow. Zelensky responded that he would call a vote if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, and that it was “up to Ukrainians” to choose their leader.
Presidential elections, originally due in 2024, have been postponed under martial law. “Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections,” Zelensky told ABC News.
The Kremlin said Friday that Ukrainian drone attacks during Russia’s parliamentary elections had effectively derailed prospects for an immediate resumption of peace talks.
The dispute over the ceasefire comes as rising energy prices have become a growing political concern for Trump ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. On Friday, Trump announced a deal with Putin under which Russia would supply diesel fuel to the United States and global markets.
Trump described it as a necessary step to bring down soaring diesel prices, which he attributed largely to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Zelensky rejected the suggestion that he was responsible for rising energy prices, saying that “everybody in the world” knew that the war in the Middle East was a bigger factor.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday that the diesel deal “is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Sunday backed Trump’s call “for a sustained energy ceasefire to start now,” describing it as “the best route to get energy and fuel back into world markets.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that France supports a “real energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine. “Currently, Russia continues to refuse that, by lately intensifying further its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure,” Macron said.
“France will continue to stay by the side of Ukraine and President Zelensky.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen fully supported Zelensky’s call for a ceasefire protecting global food supplies and energy infrastructure, according to her post on X on Sunday.
The EU will discuss Ukraine’s funding needs at its next meeting, including providing further funding for drones and missiles to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, she said. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
