President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Warsaw Security Forum that Russia struck at least six Ukrainian energy facilities in a single day, wounding 33 people, in what he described as a direct violation of the energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump [3][23]. Zelensky said he learned of the ceasefire only through media reports, telling Axios that the announcement was "news to me" and asking when the truce would begin if Trump had negotiated it with Russian President Vladimir Putin [17][12]. Trump posted on Truth Social that "both parties have agreed" to an immediate energy ceasefire and warned them not to break it [6][8].
Trump told reporters that Russia and Ukraine agreed to the ceasefire "because I said they agreed," and acknowledged that "there have been violations on both sides" [17][29]. He stated that he believes Putin is more interested in peace than Zelensky and vowed to force the two leaders into a settlement [29][30]. A White House official said Trump is "very angry" at Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, viewing US support as taken for granted [4]. The Trump administration threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons shipments to Ukraine if more Russian refineries were targeted [17].
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said contacts on a possible truce are continuing and that the Kremlin would inform journalists when it has something to say [5][36]. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected any pause, saying Zelensky does not deserve a "respite" and that Russia will not be fooled by Western ceasefire promises [3][11]. Peskov stated that Moscow wants a "lasting peace" rather than a ceasefire, and rejected Zelensky's proposal for a 60-day full ceasefire to enable elections [5][18]. The Russian Defence Ministry said it would reduce Ukrainian energy infrastructure to ashes, threatening to leave Ukrainians without heat or light in winter [11].
Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to respect an energy ceasefire if Russia does the same, stating: "We are ready, and we will accept it" [17][15]. He conditioned halting Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries on Russia ceasing attacks on Ukraine's power grid, and proposed a 60-day total ceasefire to allow presidential elections [27][12]. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia attacked overnight with a Kh-59 guided missile and 121 drones, of which 89 were intercepted, with impacts in about 15 locations [11]. Kharkiv regional head Oleh Syniehubov reported that a Russian rocket strike on the outskirts of Kharkiv killed three people and injured 22, though other reports quoting him put the number of injured at nine [16][12]. Naftogaz acting CEO Sergii Fedorenko said employees were working to repair damage from an overnight Russian attack on gas production facilities in the Kharkiv region [18]. Ukraine's national grid operator Ukrenergo reported new blackouts in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, with hourly power-cut schedules in force [37].
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said the EU would welcome the ceasefire if it holds but has not seen Russia stick to it [7][11]. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had noted no energy ceasefire from the Russian side over the preceding 48 hours [7]. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russia will only negotiate seriously under pressure, justifying continued EU sanctions [3]. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russia always responds to ceasefire proposals with brutality and pledged to push for tougher EU sanctions in Brussels [15]. EU foreign ministers were negotiating a new sanctions package against Russia in Luxembourg [21].
The ceasefire announcement followed a diesel supply agreement between Trump and Putin. Trump defended the deal as putting America first, saying he agreed with Putin on immediate deliveries of hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel and millions of tons of other fuel to lower prices for US farmers and drivers [10][14]. The US Treasury issued a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to international markets until April 2027, and the Russian government announced a partial lifting of its export ban, with an initial 500,000 tons of diesel to be shipped to world markets [14]. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia has the capacity to export 3 to 3.5 million tons of diesel monthly to global markets by the end of 2026 [38].
A bipartisan group of six US senators called on the Trump administration to reverse the diesel plan, with Republican Senator Jerry Moran urging tightened sanctions rather than undermining them by allowing Russian diesel imports [34][9]. Kallas warned that suspending sanctions on Russian diesel provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war [27]. Zelensky described the diesel deal as financing the war [15]. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Britain does not support the deal [6].
Trump's call for Ukraine to elect a new president drew rebukes from Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who said the choice of president belongs to Ukrainians alone [1]. US Representative Don Bacon, a Republican, said "we need a president who is up to the task of leading the free world" [12]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded that Zelensky leads the country in a war to defend its freedom and is supported by its people [42]. Peskov said Trump believes Ukraine needs a new president because Zelensky shows no willingness to stop the conflict [31].
Analysts questioned whether any agreement actually exists. Alexey Muriaev of Edith Cowan University urged caution, asking whether the truce covers suspending attacks on oil refineries and noting Ukraine's refineries have already been struck [32]. Susannah Streeter of Wealth Club said it is too early to call the truce a diplomatic breakthrough, warning that Trump is caught between geopolitical ambitions and domestic energy costs [32]. French researcher Ulrich Bounat said Trump presents the surge in oil and diesel prices as a direct consequence of the Ukraine war, which Bounat said is not the case [22]. The Center for Strategic and International Studies argued that any energy truce requires precise rules, an agreed target registry, and independent third-party verification [35]. Market analyst Tim Waterer said questions remain over the truce's authenticity and duration, limiting any oil-price decline [44].
RFE/RL reported on a Russian-language document listing 60 "key targets" in Ukraine's energy sector and calculating munitions needs, which Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said he had briefed European officials on as evidence of Russia's planned winter strikes campaign [33]. Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Kyiv-based Energy Industry Research Center, said the document is not a combat order but a concept paper meant to justify munitions requirements to senior Russian officials [33].
Peskov said contacts on the ceasefire are continuing and that the Kremlin will inform when there is something to say [18][45]. Zelensky said the energy ceasefire "can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russians respect it" [18][32].