Donald Trump claimed Russia and Ukraine agreed to an "energy ceasefire" effective immediately but provided no supporting details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement was "news" to him, then stated Kyiv would support such a move if Russia did the same. Russia has not commented on Trump's claim.
Zelensky later accused Russia of striking Ukrainian energy facilities after Trump's announcement. Russia hit a power plant in Kyiv with a drone, causing power cuts, followed by strikes on energy facilities in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to the Ukrainian president.
Trump's push for the energy ceasefire is tied to a separate diesel deal with Russia that temporarily undoes sanctions on Russian energy imports. Trump has been urging Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure to allow Moscow to fulfil this deal and release diesel to the US and global markets. Ukraine says these strikes are vital to curtailing revenue for Russia's war effort.
The diesel arrangement is attracting criticism from multiple quarters. Zelensky called it a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The UK, France, Canada and the EU expressed support for Trump's energy ceasefire call, but UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Britain did not support the diesel deal. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed Zelensky's criticism.
Seven US senators, including three Democrats and four Republicans, published a statement saying Trump's deal "runs directly counter" to a law explicitly banning Russian energy imports. "Congress was clear: the US should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our Nato Allies," they said. Republican Senator Thom Tillis told NBC News the deal "absolutely will" put American lives at risk.
Trump has spent months grappling with political consequences of the war with Iran, which has pushed global fuel prices higher, particularly for diesel. This has damaged his standing with Americans stung by higher pump prices and resulting inflation ahead of midterm elections.
On Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of wanting to "make problems for the world" by continuing to authorize attacks on Russian refineries. He suggested it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president". Zelensky pledged to hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day total ceasefire, despite elections being suspended by the Ukrainian constitution during wartime.
Fighting continues on the ground. Six people were killed in attacks on two Ukrainian cities on Sunday, regional officials said. One person was killed in Russia's Belgorod region, while another was killed in a drone attack in Russian-occupied Donetsk, according to officials.