President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an immediate halt in attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, declaring an end to weeks of escalating strikes on oil refineries and power plants.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.
The announcement follows sustained pressure from Trump on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop striking Russian oil refineries. Trump has argued those attacks disrupted global diesel supplies and pushed up fuel costs for Americans, a burden that has fallen heavily on farmers, truckers and businesses dependent on diesel for transport and heavy equipment.
Zelenskyy’s government has defended the refinery strikes as a legitimate tactic to choke off the revenue Russia uses to finance its war. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine would be willing to stop targeting Russian refineries if Moscow in turn stopped striking Ukrainian power plants and other infrastructure critical to heating homes and keeping businesses running.
The two sides have struck each other’s energy systems with different consequences throughout the war. Russian strikes on Ukraine’s grid have left civilians without reliable electricity and damaged infrastructure needed through the winter. Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have cut into Moscow’s fuel production and exports, with ripple effects on global energy markets.
A Tense Week in U.S.-Ukraine Relations
The ceasefire announcement comes after a rocky stretch between Washington and Kyiv. On Friday, Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to let Russian diesel exports flow back into American and global markets. Under that deal, Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, with further shipments planned for November and beyond. The Treasury Department authorized temporary sanctions relief to allow the diesel trade to proceed.
Trump said the arrangement would help lower fuel prices at home. Zelenskyy pushed back, calling it a concession to Moscow that would hand Russia additional revenue to continue the war.
Tensions rose further on Saturday when Trump suggested Ukraine should replace its president. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,” Trump told reporters.
Echoes of a Prior Announcement
This is not the first time Trump has declared an energy truce between the two countries. In September, he announced a similar agreement, but Moscow never publicly confirmed it and strikes on energy infrastructure continued.
It remains unclear how this latest ceasefire would be monitored or enforced, and an energy truce alone would not constitute a broader deal to end the fighting. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
