Trump announces energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine while strikes continue and diesel export deal draws bipartisan criticism

President Donald Trump announced on 11 October that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire effective immediately. He posted the claim on Truth Social and wrote that both parties had agreed and should not break it. He provided no further details or text of any agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the announcement was news to him. He stated that Ukraine supports a ceasefire if Russia does and is ready to halt strikes on Russian energy targets. He later reported that Russian forces struck a power plant in Kharkiv and other energy facilities after Trump’s post. By 12 October, Zelenskyy said Russia had hit six Ukrainian energy sites. The Kremlin said contacts were ongoing but declined to confirm any ceasefire.

The announcement followed Trump’s earlier criticism of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. Those strikes have reduced Russian refining capacity. Trump has argued they contribute to higher diesel prices in the United States and globally. On 10 October he announced a deal under which Russia would supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel, roughly 2.25 million barrels, to US and global markets. The Treasury Department authorised temporary sanctions relief to facilitate the shipments. Additional volumes are expected in November.

A bipartisan group of US senators criticised the diesel arrangement as contrary to a 2022 law that restricted Russian energy imports. Trump has faced pushback from both parties on the deal. He has also suggested Ukraine should replace Zelenskyy with a leader more willing to negotiate. Zelenskyy responded that the diesel agreement would embolden Moscow.

Trump made a similar energy ceasefire claim last month. Neither side confirmed it at the time, and attacks on energy infrastructure continued. The current announcement arrived as Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and Russian strikes on Ukrainian power plants have intensified ahead of winter. Ukraine says it has destroyed about half of Russia’s refining capacity. Russia has conducted hundreds of strikes on Ukrainian electricity and gas facilities in recent weeks.

European leaders including the UK, France, Canada and the EU expressed support for an energy ceasefire if both sides honour it. No formal text or verification mechanism has been released by Washington, Moscow or Kyiv. As of 12 October, reported strikes continue and neither capital has published confirmation of a binding agreement.

The diesel supply deal is separate from the ceasefire claim. It aims to ease fuel shortages linked to the Iran conflict and Ukrainian strikes on Russian facilities. Critics argue the arrangement provides Moscow with revenue while the war continues. Trump has maintained that the steps will lower prices for American consumers. The practical status of both the ceasefire and the fuel shipments remains subject to further confirmation from the parties involved.