"Energy Ceasefire" Exists Only on Truth Social as EU Imposes Largest-Ever Sanctions on Russia

Ukrainian President Zelensky, speaking via video link at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, accused Russia of striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure multiple times over the past 48 hours in violation of the "energy ceasefire" unilaterally declared by US President Trump, and warned of a response if the attacks continued.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump claimed on Sunday via his Truth Social platform that the US and Russia had reached agreement on an "energy ceasefire," but this announcement was not confirmed in either Kyiv or Moscow. Zelensky initially even denied being aware of the matter — citing sources, he told Axios News it was "news" to him. This was not the first time Trump had pre-announced ceasefires or other arrangements on Truth Social before they were confirmed by Kyiv or Moscow.

"The energy ceasefire and other measures to de-escalate and ensure security need to be implemented in reality, not just remain on Truth Social," Zelensky stated bluntly at the forum. He revealed that despite Trump's ceasefire announcement, Russian forces had struck a power plant in the Kharkiv region and other energy facilities.

The attacks did not stop at words. Al Jazeera, citing Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz, reported that Russia struck the company's gas production facilities in the Kharkiv region overnight, sparking blazes and damaging critical equipment. Acting Naftogaz CEO Sergiy Koretsky wrote: "The strike damaged critical equipment. Our staff is doing everything possible to repair the damage quickly and ensure the stable operation of the energy system."

Kremlin spokesperson Peskov, meanwhile, said Russia was pursuing "long-term peace" rather than a ceasefire, while confirming that negotiations around an "energy ceasefire" were still ongoing, but rejecting the 60-day ceasefire proposal Zelensky had put forward to allow for elections. Peskov said: "In the Kremlin, both President Putin and other officials have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire. We want long-term peace and are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it."

Adding to the ire of European allies and Kyiv, just two days before announcing the "energy ceasefire," Trump had also announced a temporary easing of US sanctions on Russian diesel. European allies and Kyiv warned this would only embolden Putin. In contrast to Washington's retrenchment, the EU formally added approximately 1,600 new sanctions to its list targeting Russia's military-industrial complex in Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote: "This is the largest expansion of our sanctions list since Russia started the war. Europe is once again showing a united front... we are making it harder, slower and more expensive for Russia to produce the weapons used to kill Ukrainians."

European leaders voiced collective skepticism over the ceasefire in name only. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated bluntly at the Warsaw Security Forum that "Russia is not interested in a ceasefire, de-escalation or peace," and announced he would travel to Brussels to urge European partners to consider stepping up sanctions. French President Macron struck a similar tone at the Paris Motor Show: "Over the past 48 hours, I have seen no sign of any energy ceasefire from the Russian side."

Zelensky said at the forum that Ukraine is still awaiting details of the terms of the agreement between the US and Russia, as well as the specific steps Washington is prepared to take. He also revealed that Ukraine is ready — if Moscow stops striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure — to halt its own attacks on Russian refineries. This proposal of mutual strikes cessation remains unresolved, while its premise, a binding "energy ceasefire," has never taken shape outside Truth Social.