Trump Announces Russia-Ukraine 'Energy Ceasefire' on Same Day Russian Forces Continue Bombing; Diesel Deal with Putin Criticized as Fueling Russia's War Machine

U.S. President Trump claimed on social media on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had reached an 'energy ceasefire' in the four-and-a-half-year war, and that it had taken 'immediate effect.' The brief message, consisting of only a few words, made no mention of any specific terms, leaving only an imperative admonition: 'Don't break it.'

According to The Hindu, hours after the ceasefire announcement was issued, Russia struck a power plant in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. The Office of the President of Ukraine confirmed that the attack occurred after Trump's post. Moscow did not immediately respond to the ceasefire announcement, and the specific scope of the ceasefire, its enforcement mechanism, and monitoring arrangements were not disclosed.

Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed in an address that evening that Russian 'Shahed' drones had violated Ukrainian airspace throughout the day, accompanied by glide bomb attacks. He said: 'Unfortunately, today the whole day, Ukrainian skies have been violated by Russian Shahed drones. Today there were also glide bomb attacks and strikes on energy infrastructure. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked tonight.' Zelensky said Ukraine 'welcomed' Trump's announcement as 'good news for everyone,' but the reality was that energy facilities were under attack. In an interview with ABC's 'This Week,' he said: 'We ask President Trump to send a signal to the Russian side not to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure.' He also said Kyiv was prepared to stop striking Russian refineries, provided Moscow ceased its attacks on Ukraine's energy system.

What caused even greater alarm among Ukrainian and European officials was the diesel purchase deal Trump had finalized with Putin just one day earlier. According to The Hindu, the deal was intended to ease pressure from high domestic diesel prices in the United States, coming at a time when U.S. midterm elections were approaching. Ukrainian and European officials expressed strong displeasure, arguing that it would provide funding for Russia's war effort.

This was not the first time Trump had directed criticism at Zelensky. On October 10 he said Ukraine 'should have a new president,' implying that Zelensky had done insufficient to end the war, and blamed record U.S. diesel prices on him—rather than on the global energy price increases driven by the U.S.-led war against Iran. Zelensky responded that Ukraine could hold elections, but only on the condition that Russia agreed to a full 60-day ceasefire. 'Give us two months, a 60-day rest. Full ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections,' he said, adding that whatever the outcome, Ukraine would accept whatever choice the people made. Zelensky noted that under Ukraine's constitution, holding elections under martial law would be unlawful; Russia still controlled roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, millions of Ukrainians were scattered abroad, frontline soldiers would find it difficult to vote, and holding a nationwide vote would be operationally nearly impossible. Zelensky's term had officially expired in May 2024, but the constitution allowed him to continue in office until a new president is inaugurated.

In his address, Zelensky once again highlighted Russia's core strategy: deliberately depriving Ukrainian civilians of electricity, heating, and running water during wartime, a practice Ukrainian officials describe as 'weaponizing winter.' He also said Ukraine had proposed multiple de-escalation measures, but Putin's 'answer to all of them has been no.' 'We hope he can finally say something different to America, Ukraine, and the whole world,' Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continued to carry out long-range strikes on targets deep inside Russia. According to The Hindu, an October 11 attack paralyzed a data center operated by tech giant Yandex in the Russian city of Vladimir—the third strike against the company's facilities in four days. With the ground front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces at a stalemate, the two sides have engaged in a prolonged long-range aerial duel.

The terms of the diesel purchase deal Trump struck with Putin were likewise not made public. While Moscow drags Ukrainian cities into darkness with drones and missiles, Washington is paying the Kremlin's fuel bill—the reality that was already on the table when the October 11 ceasefire announcement was made.