Kyiv reports continued energy strikes after Trump's ceasefire announcement
In short
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia continued striking energy facilities after President Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between the two countries. Zelensky said Ukraine had not known about the announcement in advance and would support a halt to energy attacks if Russia did too.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia continued attacking Ukraine's energy facilities after US President Donald Trump announced what he called an energy ceasefire. Speaking to the Warsaw Security Forum by video link on Monday, Zelensky said Ukraine had not known about the proposal in advance. He said Ukraine supported it but had not heard Russian approval, according to NBC News. [ 6 , 10 ]
Trump announced on social media on October 11 that both countries had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire and urged them not to break it. He did not provide details about the arrangement. When CNBC asked the White House for more information, it referred the outlet to his social media post. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov subsequently said contacts were ongoing but provided no further details, CNN and NBC News reported. [ 6 , 10 , 20 ]
Ukrainian officials said attacks continued after the announcement. A local official told ABC News that the CHP-5 thermal power plant in Kharkiv had been struck at least twice, causing a fire. Zelensky said Russia had attacked that plant and another in Kyiv after Trump's statement. In his evening address, he said Ukraine was ready to refrain from attacking Russian energy infrastructure and expected the same readiness from Russia. [ 15 ]
Zelensky also said a Russian jet-powered Shahed struck a Ukrainian gas production facility at midnight, CNN reported. He said Russian refineries had not been burning the previous night and reiterated that Ukraine would comply if Russia did. Earlier, he said Kyiv was awaiting details from the American side and had discussed the announcement with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. [ 6 ]
The announcement followed a US agreement to lift sanctions on Russian fuel. According to NBC News, Trump said the deal would bring an immediate 300,000 tons of diesel to American and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and another million afterward. NBC News separately reported on October 12 that oil and gas prices rose after the announced ceasefire failed to gain traction. [ 10 , 40 ]
Why it matters
Ukrainian officials reported further attacks on power facilities in Kharkiv and Kyiv after Trump's announcement. NBC News reported that oil and gas prices rose on October 12 after the announced ceasefire failed to gain traction.
Key facts
- Trump said on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire taking effect immediately. [ 2 , 15 , 23 ]
- Zelensky said Ukraine learned about the announcement through the media and supported the proposal if Russia also agreed. [ 10 , 11 ]
- Ukrainian officials reported attacks on energy facilities after Trump's announcement. [ 10 , 15 , 23 ]
- A local official told ABC News that the CHP-5 thermal power plant in Kharkiv was struck at least twice, causing a fire. [ 15 ]
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said contacts were ongoing without providing further details. [ 6 , 10 ]
- The White House referred CNBC to Trump's social media post when asked for more information. [ 20 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire and claimed both Russia and Ukraine had agreed. [ 2 , 15 , 20 , 23 ]
- Zelensky said the announcement was news to him and expressed support if Russia also agreed. [ 10 , 11 , 15 ]
- Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes on energy facilities continued after the announcement. [ 10 , 15 , 23 , 38 ]
- Peskov said contacts were ongoing without detailing a ceasefire agreement. [ 6 , 10 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Russia had agreed to the ceasefire remained unconfirmed in the supplied reporting. Trump said both sides agreed, but Zelensky said he had not heard Russian approval and Peskov provided no details.
- The terms and implementation of the proposed ceasefire were not specified. Trump did not elaborate, and the White House referred CNBC to his social media post.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On October 11, Bloomberg reported Trump's claim that both countries had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire. [ 2 ]
- On October 11, ABC News reported Ukrainian officials' account of strikes on a Kharkiv power plant after Trump's announcement. [ 15 ]
- On October 12, PBS NewsHour reported Zelensky's statement that Russian attacks on energy facilities continued. [ 38 ]
- On October 12, NBC News reported rising oil and gas prices after the announced ceasefire failed to gain traction. [ 40 ]