Topline
President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine both agreed to an “energy ceasefire” on Sunday, without providing context or details about the agreement—just one day after he called for Ukraine to “get a new president” while expressing frustration over the country’s attacks on Russia’s diesel refineries.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
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Key Facts
Trump announced the deal on Truth Social on Sunday morning, providing no further information about when it was negotiated or what it covers, but claiming “both parties have agreed” and warning them “do not break it!”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later told Axios the agreement was “news for me,” but added his country would agree to it so long as the Russians do.
Speaking to ABC News’ “This Week” earlier on Sunday morning, Zelenskyy said he had previously spoken to Trump and “we are ready for energy ceasefire, not to attack energy—both sides.”
It is unclear when the two sides agreed to this ceasefire, and the White House did not immediately return a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
On Friday, Trump announced he had “discussions” with Russian President Vladimir Putin about supplying the U.S. with diesel as prices for the fuel used for farming, trucking and other crucial industries remains high. The average diesel price in the U.S. is $4.36 per gallon, according to data from GasBuddy, down slightly from its peak of $4.49 per gallon weeks earlier in September. According to Trump, Russia agreed to supply the U.S. with 300,000 tons of diesel, plus another 500,000 tons in November and 3 million tons “within a short period of time.” The Treasury Department then confirmed the U.S. was granting Russia, which faces severe sanctions over its ongoing war in Ukraine, a “temporary general license to allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market.” Trump defended this deal on Saturday, telling reporters it would lead to “massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and I want to thank President Putin, to be honest with you.” He later insisted “we need oil for the world, and this is diesel which is what we need. So we’re very happy to get it,” before claiming “oil prices are already dropping like a rock.” Zelenskyy criticized the deal on X, claiming that “Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia” that killed 12 people, including three children. In response to Zelenskyy, Trump told reporters on Saturday, “I suggest they [Ukraine] get a new leader who can make a deal. Because he could have made many deals, but for some reason he never does.”
Crucial Quote
Zelenskyy said his country was “open” to the idea of an energy ceasefire in an earlier interview on Sunday morning with ABC News. “Don’t attack us, don’t kill our children. We will stop attack[ing] your diesel. And I think it’s fair, fair deal.” The Ukrainian president said Russia had targeted his country’s energy sector 196 times, killing a total of 153 civilians. Zelenskyy also addressed Trump’s demand for a new Ukrainian president. “With all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people, to choose one or another leader,” Zelenskyy said, but claimed elections would be “difficult” to secure with the ongoing war. However, Zelenskyy also said he would organize elections if Russia 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 said.
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