Russian forces struck six Ukrainian energy and infrastructure sites hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a surprise energy ceasefire.
Hours before the attack, Trump posted on Truth Social that an ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine was ‘effective immediately,’ claiming both parties had agreed to stop targeting energy facilities.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has now dismissed Vladimir Putin’s offer of a one-day ceasefire and ignored the threats of a furious Donald Trump.
After Kremlin missiles hit an oil refinery, causing widespread blackouts in Kyiv, Zelensky wrote on X: ‘Unfortunately there were strikes on our energy infrastructure today and on our energy infrastructure yesterday. All day long there have been air raid alerts across Ukraine.’
The Russian attacks came within hours of the US President announcing the ceasefire would be ‘effective immediately’.
This appeared to come as a surprise to the Ukrainian leader, who said the ceasefire was ‘news to me’, but that Ukraine would observe it if Moscow agreed.
Russia has since struck Ukrainian energy facilities six times. Ukrainian officials also said yesterday that a Russian strike on a high-rise residential building in a Kyiv suburb had killed two people and injured at least seven.
Zelensky continued on X: ‘If these strikes are indeed Russia’s response to the US President’s statement, it means the Russians have squandered yet another opportunity to bring peace closer.
‘A lot depends on America’s position for de–escalation to actually succeed. Pressure on Russia is needed. We continue to communicate with the American side at all levels.
As attempts to negotiate a truce descended into farce, Putin offered a one-day ceasefire to Ukraine so it could hold elections in relative safety. The country has been under martial law since Russia invaded in 2022, meaning elections are suspended.
Putin’s offer was a cursory response to Mr Zelensky’s request for 60 days for the same purpose.
