“US President Donald Trump expressed irritation with Russia and Ukraine a day after he announced a so-called “energy ceasefire,” which appeared to take both countries by surprise. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv supported the surprise ceasefire announcement but did not know about it in advance, and Moscow declined to say whether it backs the”, — write on: www.cnn.com
US President Donald Trump expressed irritation with Russia and Ukraine a day after he announced a so-called “energy ceasefire,” which appeared to take both countries by surprise.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv supported the surprise ceasefire announcement but did not know about it in advance, and Moscow declined to say whether it backs the proposal.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump said on social media Sunday morning.
But on Monday evening, Trump appeared to suggest there was no buy-in from either party prior to his announcement.
“Well, they agreed. You know why? Because I said, ‘You agreed.’ That’s why,” he told reporters as he left the White House for a rally in Youngstown, Ohio.
Trump later added that he believes “they both support” a ceasefire and that “they want to make a deal, but they don’t know how.” He also said he thinks Putin is ready to make a deal to end the war, but expressed doubts that Zelensky was ready to do so.
CNN has reached out to the White House for information on how the agreement was reached and what the next steps may be.
Zelensky said on Monday that Russia had already violated the surprise energy ceasefire proposal.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Russia “launched a targeted strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to our energy system,” Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president also noted Russian drone strikes on civilian infrastructure on Monday, including an attack on a high-rise apartment building in Kyiv.
Despite the fresh attacks, the Ukrainian leader vowed to abide by the new agreement, if Russia does too.
“Ukraine has not carried out strikes on Russian oil refineries or the energy sector in general for the two days since the American President announced an energy ceasefire. But Russia did not heed the American President,” Zelensky said in a social media post on Tuesday.
“During this time, the Russians have attacked both our energy facilities and our critical infrastructure, sending absolutely clear signals that they have no intention of refraining from strikes on Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “Our position remains unchanged: Ukraine is ready for reciprocal steps toward de-escalation.”
In his nightly address on Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine is also ready for meetings in the coming days and that his team sent Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, proposals for further talks.
When asked about Trump and Zelensky’s comments on Monday, the Kremlin said that “contacts are ongoing,” without providing any further details. “I have nothing to add on this subject,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.