U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to pause attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, while also calling for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to step down, criticizing Kyiv’s assaults on Russian oil facilities
Trump’s recent comments came as he promoted an “energy ceasefire,” claiming on his social media platform that both Moscow and Kyiv would stop targeting infrastructure linked to oil and fuel supplies. This followed his announcement of an arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would allow the U.S. Treasury to permit some Russian diesel exports despite ongoing sanctions.
The U.S. president argued that his deal with Russia would increase the global supply of oil and suggested that an end to strikes on energy infrastructure could help stabilize the supply, particularly as energy markets face pressure from ongoing conflict in Iran.
In his own statement, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy indicated that Kyiv supports de-escalation and is seeking further explanation of the reported “energy ceasefire” from U.S. officials. Zelenskyy has maintained that Ukraine would consider halting attacks on Russian oil facilities only if Moscow ceased assaults on Kyiv’s power grid.
Trump has recently increased pressure on Kyiv, expressing in comments to reporters that a change in Ukrainian leadership is needed. He argued that Zelenskyy’s policies, including strikes on Russian refineries, are exacerbating a global diesel shortage and adversely affecting American agriculture and energy markets.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has criticized U.S. moves to ease sanctions on Russian fuel, linking them to deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Ceasefire agreements between Russia and Ukraine have been challenging to implement since the conflict between the two nations began in 2022. Despite Trump’s repeated efforts to broker a resolution, no lasting agreement has been reached.
As of 9:55 AM (Bangkok time), Brent crude futures dropped $1.73, or 1.65%, to $102.99 per barrel, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate declined $1.77, or 1.93%, to $90.06.
