Strikes reported within a day of the announcement
Ukraine said Russian forces hit energy facilities and other targets less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump announced what he called an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. Trump wrote on social media on Sunday morning that both sides had agreed to stop striking energy infrastructure "effective immediately" and warned, "Do not break it!"
The claim was not confirmed by Moscow. By Monday, Ukrainian officials reported drone attacks across the country and fresh strikes on power plants, including damage in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where rescue workers put out fires at destroyed homes. Reports said at least six people were killed in the wave of attacks.
Kremlin ties any pause to a Ukrainian election
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would be ready to halt strikes on Ukraine "specifically on election day" if Ukraine holds a vote, and accused Kyiv of wanting a 60-day ceasefire "to gather their strength, heal their wounds, and continue the war."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, said holding an election during the war would be unlawful and that Ukraine would need security guarantees before any vote could be safe. He rejected the idea of outside pressure over who should lead the country. "With all respect to President Trump, it's up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader," he said.
Diesel deal adds to the friction
The ceasefire claim came days after Trump said he struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to supply diesel to the United States and world markets, part of an effort to lower fuel prices before US midterm elections. The plan drew criticism from Ukrainian and European officials, who said the money would help pay for Russia's war effort, and from a bipartisan group of US senators who want the plan reversed.
Analysts remained sceptical that the energy truce would hold. The war is heading into another winter with both sides attacking power infrastructure, and each side accuses the other of hitting civilian areas. For now, the gap between the announcement in Washington and the situation on the ground in Ukraine is as wide as it was before the post went out.