Trump's 'energy ceasefire' claim welcomed by Zelensky but Russia silent

11 October 2026, 15: 46 BST. Updated 1 hour ago.

Key points

• French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have additionally expressed their backing for an energy truce.
• UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham remarked Britain "strongly supports President Trump's call today for a sustained energy ceasefire to start now".
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially informed a US media outlet that it was "news" to him, before saying Kyiv would backing it if Moscow did.
• Republican Senator Thom Tillis, one of the seven, informed NBC News that the agreement "absolutely will" put American lives at risk.
• The diesel accord has been criticised by Zelensky, some European office-holders and some US politicians, including some from Trump's Republican party.

Donald Trump has asserted that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an "energy ceasefire" in their war, with Kyiv saying it would backing such a move but no comment from Moscow.

In practice, the US president insisted that it was "effective immediately" but provided no details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially informed a US media outlet that it was "news" to him, before saying Kyiv would backing it if Moscow did. He has additionally accused Russia of striking Ukraine's energy facilities after Trump posted his announcement.

Trump has been urging Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil infrastructure – which Kyiv notes are vital to curtailing revenue for Moscow's war machine – so Russia can fulfil a recently-struck agreement to release diesel to the US and the global market.

For context, the diesel accord has been criticised by Zelensky, some European office-holders and some US politicians, including some from Trump's Republican party. Live updates on this story.

After Trump asserted an energy truce had taken effect, Zelensky expressed surprise to news site Axios before writing on social media that his office-holders "look forward to clear details of America's dialogue with Russia".

"Ukraine is ready not to strike at Russian energy and we count on Russia's similar readiness and on the agreement of the president of the United States of America on this, " he remarked. The BBC has asked the White House for further details.

After speaking to von der Leyen, Zelensky remarked Russia had hit a power plant in Kyiv with a drone, causing power outages, followed by strikes on energy facilities in the north-eastern Kharkiv region.

"All of this happened after the president of the United States made his statement about an energy ceasefire, " he remarked.

In Ukraine, six individuals have been killed in Russian attacks on two cities, regional office-holders noted.

Meanwhile, a person has been killed in Russia's Belgorod region, according to its regional task force.

For months, Ukraine and Russia have been exchanging strikes on energy infrastructure.

While Zelensky has characterised Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russian territory as part of an effort to "reduce Russia's ability to finance the war", moscow remarked the installations it hits were legitimate targets as they backed Ukraine's military operation. The attacks have disrupted energy supplies on both sides.

Meanwhile, the accord unveiled with Russia earlier this week, temporarily undoing sanctions on Russian imports, is the latest effort by Trump to lower fuel rates in the US ahead of the midterm elections, having spent months grappling with the political consequences of the Iran war.

Notably, the US-Israeli war with Iran has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a vital waterway through which around a fifth of the world's oil products usually flow – and pushed up global fuel rates, particularly those for diesel.

That conflict has soured Trump's standing with the American public. This person have been stung by the higher pump rates and knock-on effects that led to across-the-board inflation.

Zelensky has called the diesel accord a gift to Putin. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has informed the BBC that the UK did not backing it. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has echoed Zelensky's comments.

Some US politicians – including some from Trump's Republican party – have additionally criticised the agreement.

Seven senators, including three Democrats and four Republicans, have published a statement saying Trump's accord with Russia "runs directly counter" to a law that banned Russian energy imports.

"Congress was clear: the US should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our Nato Allies, " the statement remarked, urging the Trump administration to "reverse course".

After Zelensky's criticism, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of wanting to "make problems for the world" by continuing to authorise attacks on Russian refineries and stated it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president".

Zelensky responded by pledging to hold elections – despite them being suspended by the Ukrainian constitution during wartime – if Russia agreed to a 60-day total ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president previously resisted calls from the US for fresh elections, pointing to complications with holding a vote in parts of the country that are active war zones or under Russian occupation.

Trump, nevertheless, has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian leader of using the war to stay in power.

In short, trump' s ' energy ceasefire' claim welcomed by Zelensky but Russia silent is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.