Trump announces 'energy ceasefire' between Russia and Ukraine, Zelenskyy extends support

US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced an 'energy ceasefire' in the Russia-Ukraine war, a day after critising Zelenskiy for attacking Russian oil refineries.

"Effective immediately, there is an energy ceasefire in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it," he said in a post on Truth Social.

The two nations have launched numerous strikes on energy infrastructure since the war began, resulting in widespread civil casualties and damage to critical oil refineries.


Also read: Kremlin says Putin in phone call with Trump downplays immediate Ukraine talks resumption

The announcement came soon after Zelenskyy said that he will organize Ukraine elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.

"Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections," Zelenskyy told ABC's "This Week."

On Saturday, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for attacking Russian oil refineries a day after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian fuel that were designed to deprive Moscow of revenues to fund its war in Ukraine.

"I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," he had told reporters at the White House.

Earlier on September 14, he announced that the two countries had agreed not to hit energy targets in each other's nation, adding that the rise in global diesel prices is largely due to the Russia-Ukraine war rather than the conflict involving Iran.

"Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise! The World’s Diesel price rise is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran," he said.

Zelenskyy extends support

Soon after the 'energy ceasefire' claims, Zelenskyy told Axios that the announcement "was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree."

However, the Ukrainian leader later said he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about the energy ceasefire announced by Trump.

In a post on X, he said Ukraine supports the ceasefire and stressed that Russia should also back the initiative. Kyiv is awaiting further details from the US side, he added.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine fully supports efforts to de-escalate the conflict, protect lives and take the necessary decisions to end the war and ensure lasting peace.

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Russia responsible for war in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

Only Russia is responsible for the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian president said as he vowed to press ahead with strikes on Russian oil refineries, despite criticism from Trump, who blamed him for high diesel prices and said he should be replaced.

The exchange came as Kyiv pressed its campaign against infrastructure deep inside Russia, with a drone attack on Sunday shutting down a data center run by Russian technology giant Yandex. The attack marked the third strike on the company’s facilities in four days.

Russia and Ukraine are locked in a long-range aerial war while their armies remain largely deadlocked on the ground for more than 4 1/2 years since Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

“Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.

“It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but (Russian President Vladimir) Putin does not want to do so,” he said, adding that any de-escalation must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees.