Trump posted Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had settled on an "energy ceasefire" that kicks in immediately. He wrote, "Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" and did not share any additional terms or mechanics. The White House did not respond to a request for more information about the president's post.
The claim arrived a day after Trump again pressed Zelenskyy to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries and floated that Ukraine's leader should consider stepping aside. Trump has also been under fire for a separate arrangement with Russia on diesel exports. He previously touted an energy ceasefire last month, but Zelenskyy later said no agreement had been finalized and the war continued.
On ABC's This Week, Zelenskyy urged Trump to ramp up pressure on Moscow to end the war. "Russia doesn't feel real pressure, they want to continue," he said, noting that Kyiv would accept a truce and added, "We are ready to begin from any kind of steps of de-escalation." That includes an "energy ceasefire" if Russia takes matching steps. "Don't attack us. Don't kill our children," Zelenskyy said. "We will stop attack your diesel."
After Trump's post, Zelenskyy said "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well," and noted Kyiv is "awaiting details" from the US. Earlier, he told Axios the announcement had caught him off guard.
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Zelenskyy and Trump have sparred over Trump's effort with Vladimir Putin to move Russian diesel into global markets, a decision for which the Treasury had to issue a waiver so sanctions could be removed. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the move in the US, and Zelenskyy argued it gives Russia more resources to keep fighting.
Trump said last week the shipments were set to start this month, with roughly 13.5 million barrels of Russian diesel slated to reach global markets. According to Energy Information Administration data, this would be the first US imports of Russian diesel since March 2022. On Bloomberg This Weekend, Bloomberg Economics' Chris Kennedy said Trump's diesel-export agreement is unlikely to meaningfully lower US fuel prices.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and other energy facilities led Moscow in July to temporarily halt most exports of diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline, a restriction recently extended through October. Before those curbs and the refinery attacks, Russia supplied about 10% of global seaborne diesel. Removing those barrels intensified a crunch that was already in place because the US-Iran war had disrupted shipments moving via the Strait of Hormuz.
On Saturday, at least 20 people in Ukraine died after Russia struck residential buildings, occurring only hours after the latest US talks to end the invasion were cut short by one day.
What this could mean for your wallet: if strikes on energy infrastructure truly pause or if fresh Russian diesel hits the market, fuel prices could budge. But traders will likely wait for the specifics Kyiv says it still expects before making big moves.
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