A series of Russian attacks on Ukraine during the early hours and morning of Monday (12) killed several people and injured dozens, including attacks on energy facilities that Kiev classified as a violation of the ceasefire on such targets announced by United States (USA) President Donald Trump.
Under pressure from high fuel prices ahead of next month's US midterm elections, Trump caught Ukraine and its European allies by surprise by declaring that Kiev and Moscow had agreed not to attack each other's energy systems.
Trump also revealed a deal to buy diesel from Russia and called for Ukrainians to replace their leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the elections.
Ukraine's European allies expressed skepticism about any ceasefire in the energy sector and argued that the US needs to maintain pressure on Moscow, while the European Union (EU) approved its biggest sanctions package since the Russian invasion in 2022.
Zelensky, who said he learned of Trump's supposed energy ceasefire only from the media, said a Russian drone hit a gas production facility in Ukraine at midnight, and that a gas station was hit by several drones.
“There have been Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump,” Zelensky said at a conference in Warsaw via videoconference.
“This energy ceasefire could work and could become an important step toward ending the war if the Americans actually intervene now and make sure the Russians respect it,” he said. “We are awaiting the details of the conditions agreed between the Americans and the Russians, and we are waiting to see a specific measure that the Americans are willing to take.”
Zelensky said Ukraine did not carry out attacks on Russian refineries overnight, but made clear that if Russia wants Kiev to halt them, it should stop attacking Ukraine's energy system. He also said elections in Ukraine, suspended during wartime, could be held if Moscow agreed to a full 60-day ceasefire.
Russia, for its part, said that negotiations on a possible ceasefire in the energy sector are ongoing, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that more information would be released in due course. However, he also rejected Zelensky's proposal for a 60-day truce.
“In the Kremlin, both President [Vladimir] Putin and officials at other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire,” Peskov said. “We want lasting peace and we are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it.”
Body
In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, rescuers sifted through the rubble of destroyed buildings. The body of a dead civilian, wearing white jeans and sneakers, lay beneath the rubble, illuminated by spotlights in the darkness of the night.
Nataliia Minka said she had just arrived at a shelter when a missile hit nearby. She and her son saw what they believed to be a missile hitting a nearby power plant.
“It had been ten minutes since they promised they would not attack energy facilities,” she said. “It’s so terrifying, it’s impossible to get over something like this.”
After nighttime attacks killed at least three people in the city, new attacks occurred in the morning, hitting residential buildings and injuring at least 22 more people, according to municipal authorities. At least three other people were declared dead on Sunday (11) in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, in the west of the country.
Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire appeared similar to one he made a month ago, which neither side has yet confirmed.
Trump gets impatient
In recent months, Ukraine has increasingly attacked Russian oil refineries and logistics centers in response to Russia's four-and-a-half-year offensive against Ukrainian cities, including a persistent campaign to disrupt Ukraine's heating and electricity supplies, especially in winter.
Trump has been increasingly impatient, blaming Kiev's attacks on Russian refineries for rising fuel costs, especially diesel, which have reached record prices since he launched his war on Iran. On Saturday (10), Trump said Zelensky has to “stop once and for all” attacking Russian refineries.
A person familiar with the situation said the US has threatened to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine and supplying weapons, which Washington no longer supplies to Kiev but allows European countries to buy on its behalf.
