Russian forces launched a series of missile strikes across Ukraine, just hours after former US President Donald Trump unilaterally declared an “energy ceasefire.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately challenged the claim. He stated that the supposed agreement was “news for me,” indicating no prior knowledge or confirmation.
Trump had announced the purported ceasefire on Sunday evening via social media. He claimed both parties had agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” effective immediately. However, Moscow offered no immediate confirmation, and subsequent events directly contradicted the assertion.
Overnight, Kyiv experienced devastating attacks. A high-rise apartment building was struck, killing one person and injuring 11 others, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Additionally, the northeastern city of Kharkiv reported at least 12 injuries following attacks on its energy facilities. In eastern Ukraine, three civilians died in a rocket strike in Donetsk, while four others were injured in Kramatorsk.
President Zelenskyy, speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, confirmed widespread “Russian violations” of the announced ceasefire. He pointedly remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin evidently “does not read Truth Social.” Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine would respond if Russia continued its assaults on critical infrastructure without a genuine cessation of hostilities.
The Ukrainian leader expressed conditional readiness to support a halt in energy infrastructure attacks. However, he stressed that any such energy ceasefire must include verifiable security guarantees. Ukraine awaits specific steps from international partners to ensure Russian compliance.
Meanwhile, European leaders voiced skepticism. The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, welcomed the idea of an “energy ceasefire” but noted no signs of Russian adherence. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed these sentiments, observing no evidence of a Russian ceasefire over the past 48 hours.
The Kremlin, for its part, stated that President Putin would only consider a single-day ceasefire if Ukraine planned a presidential election. Russia previously rejected President Zelenskyy’s proposal for a 60-day election ceasefire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Zelenskyy did not “deserve a respite.”
