Trump says Russia-U.S. energy truce agreed... Russian airstrikes continue (comprehensive 2nd report)

(Washington = Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Yu-mi = U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 11th (local time) that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the energy sector.

However, even after President Trump's ceasefire announcement, Russia appears to have continued airstrikes, including attacking Ukrainian power plants, raising questions about the ceasefire agreement mentioned by President Trump.

President Trump said on the social media platform TruthSocial that day, “An energy truce has been reached in the war between Russia and Ukraine,” and that it takes effect immediately.

He then said, “Both sides agreed to this,” and urged, “Do not violate this.”

The 'energy truce' mentioned by President Trump is interpreted to mean an agreement to stop attacks on energy facilities.

However, President Trump did not mention the specific target or period of application of the ceasefire.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the U.S. online media Axios, "This is the first time I've heard of this," and added, "But if Russia agrees to an energy truce, Ukraine will also agree."

President Zelensky later said on social media, "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia also supports it," and said he was waiting for the United States to announce details, Reuters reported.

President Zelensky also said in a video speech this evening that Russia continued to attack energy facilities, including attacking a combined heat and power plant in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, even after President Trump's announcement.

It has not yet been confirmed whether Russia officially agrees to a ceasefire.

Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging attacks targeting each other's energy infrastructure.

Russia carried out large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine's power plants and power grid on the 30th of last month and the 7th of this month, resulting in a power outage in the capital Kiev and other areas.

Ukraine has also attacked Russia's oil refineries with drones, damaging Russia's energy supply.

President Trump has recently put strong pressure on Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries due to rising global energy prices.

However, Ukraine's position is that it cannot unilaterally stop attacks in a situation where Russia does not stop attacks on its energy facilities.

Meanwhile, President Trump announced on the 9th that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel on a large scale to the U.S. and global markets. To this end, some sanctions against Russia were also eased.

This was interpreted as a measure to respond to rising energy prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November.

However, President Zelensky strongly criticized the so-called 'transit deal', saying it was "like a birthday present to Putin," and President Trump responded by saying that President Zelensky had the opportunity to end the war but refused to do so, and argued that Ukraine needs a new leader who can bring about an agreement to end the war.

As the conflict between the United States and Ukraine escalated over the supply of Russian diesel, President Trump announced that the two sides had agreed to an energy truce.

While Ukraine has expressed its support for the ceasefire, Russia's attacks on energy facilities continue, and Russia's clear consent and cessation of attacks are expected to be key to establishing an actual ceasefire.

Previously, the two countries agreed to suspend attacks on energy facilities for 30 days through the mediation of the United States in March of last year, but attacks continued thereafter, and they fought each other over violation of the agreement.

President Trump announced on the 14th of last month that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to attack each other's energy facilities, but both sides continued to target the other country's energy facilities.