Trump claims Russia and Ukraine reached an “energy ceasefire” deal. Hours later, a Kharkiv power plant is hit twice
A ceasefire doesn't seem to be in sight.
Early on Sunday, October 11, Donald Trump, president of the United States, announced that Russia and Ukraine had both agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” meaning they would no longer target each other’s energy sources when attacking.
Trump’s announcement was made on Truth Social, where he wrote, “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!
Hours after Trump posted this announcement, Russia struck a Kharkiv power plant twice, leaving the plant on fire as a result of the strikes. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed the attack.
Russia and Ukraine have not reached a ceasefire deal
Zelensky told Axios he wasn’t aware of the energy ceasefire deal, but he’s willing to agree if Russia does, too. He also posted on X saying, “Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia does. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received all the appropriate orders. We are awaiting clear details of the dialogue between America and Russia – and we expect Putin to follow through on what President Trump said.”
Attacks on energy infrastructure between Ukraine and Russia have been going on for months. In May, Ukraine struck one of Russia’s largest refineries. In November 2025, Russia struck residential buildings in Kyiv along with energy infrastructure. Both of these attacks happened around the time Trump was speaking about negotiations with the countries, believing that a deal for peace would be reached. Unfortunately, the war between Ukraine and Russia continues without an end in sight.
There were talks regarding an energy ceasefire
Trump’s post about an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia didn’t come out of nowhere. A few days before, an article on Yahoo reported that Russia wanted the US to ease its sanctions on the country in exchange for agreeing to an energy ceasefire.
However, on October 8, a spokesperson for the Kremlin said, “Kyiv is not currently proposing a long-term settlement, but rather a ceasefire in an area that is its Achilles’ heel – the energy sector.”
While Russia’s public stance seems to be against an energy ceasefire, officials from the US and Ukraine have claimed that Russia has appeared interested in such a deal privately. Meanwhile, a European diplomat questioned which sanctions Russia wants eased, saying, “If they get sanctioned funds released, the likelihood that these will be used to escalate [the war] is almost guaranteed. No one really thinks they are genuinely seeking to adhere to a ceasefire.”
Russia has yet to make any public statement about the attacks on Kharkiv.
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