Washington/Brussels/Paris. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine and Russia will refrain from attacking each other's energy sector. The partial ceasefire applies with immediate effect, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Both sides have agreed to this. Please stick to it!"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke positively about an energy ceasefire. Ukraine is ready for this. He now expects approval from Russia as well as a related agreement with the US President. Ukraine has already proposed numerous steps for de-escalation. But Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin always answered no, said Zelensky in his evening video speech. “Ukraine wants peace - the question is whether Russia wants it.”
In an initial reaction, Zelensky expressed surprise at Trump's announcement. A ceasefire agreement was new to him, he told the “Axios” portal.
According to Zelensky, the Russian military attacked and damaged a thermal power plant in the city of Kharkiv in the east of the country on Sunday. Zelensky, however, left it open whether the attack took place before or after the ceasefire announced by Trump.
After a phone call with Zelensky in the evening, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on However, Russia is currently blocking this by increasing its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure in the last few hours. He emphasized: “France continues to stand with Ukraine and with President Zelensky.”
The day before, Trump had called for Zelensky to be replaced as president. The US President cited, among other things, his alleged refusal to conclude a peace agreement with Russia as a reason. Russia attacked the neighboring country over four and a half years ago and recently rejected several proposals for a ceasefire.
Before Trump's comments, Zelensky had sharply criticized a lifting of sanctions agreed between the USA and Russia on the sale of Russian diesel - this was "an investment in the war that must be ended and not prolonged."
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also supported Zelensky after a telephone conversation. "I expressed our solidarity with the Ukrainian people. And my full support for President Zelensky as he leads the fight for the freedom of his people," she wrote on
Zelensky responded to Trump's demand for his removal from power with a counteroffer. If Trump can persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for a 60-day, complete ceasefire, Ukraine would have time to organize new elections, Zelensky told US broadcaster ABC. Its citizens must be guaranteed security during the elections.
Zelenskyj's regular term of office has already expired on May 20, 2024. However, due to martial law, the term of office has been extended indefinitely according to the constitution, as new elections are not possible under these circumstances. In addition, Zelensky has repeatedly pointed out that Ukrainians in the parts of the country occupied by Russia must also take part in the elections unhindered.
Zelenskyj sees the current pressure from Washington as an expression of helplessness. “These people just can’t find a way to stop Putin,” he said. Therefore, it is easier to put pressure on others than to stop the Kremlin leader. He reported that Russia had attacked 200 energy facilities in Ukraine this week, killing 153 civilians and injuring around 700 people. “Russia doesn’t feel any pressure, it just wants to keep going.”
Trump also accused Zelensky of contributing to the global diesel shortage with attacks on the Russian energy sector and called on him to stop attacks on Russian refineries. In fact, crude oil and diesel prices have skyrocketed in large part as a result of the Iran War, which the United States and Israel unilaterally launched last February.
