Power plants in Ukraine have been hit by Russia, hours after Donald Trump said the two countries had agreed on an energy ceasefire according to BBC.
Residents in the city of Izyum have been hit by blackouts after a Russian strike destroyed power grids, according to Ukrinform, Ukraine’s state news agency.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the two countries had agreed to an energy ceasefire “effective immediately”, but gave no details. A ceasefire would see a pause on either country striking energy infrastructure targets.
Russia did not respond, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said such a deal would be “good news”. He also accused Russia of striking Ukraine energy facilities after Trump’s post.
Energy and railway infrastructure in the region of Zhytomyr in western Ukraine was also targeted by Russian attacks overnight, according to the head of the region’s military administration, Vitaliy Bunechko.
After Trump announced the ceasefire on Sunday, Zelensky said it was “news to him” that a truce was in effect.
He wrote on social media: “Ukraine is ready not to strike at Russian energy and we count on Russia’s similar readiness and on the agreement of the president of the United States of America on this.”
However, Zelensky said on Sunday evening that Russia had continued to launch strikes despite Trump’s announcement.
He wrote on X: “There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening.”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain “strongly supports President Trump’s call today for a sustained energy ceasefire to start now”, while France, Canada and the EU also expressed support.
However, there has been a mixed response among European officials.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc would welcome an energy ceasefire “when it holds”. Kallas said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday: “We haven’t yet seen that also Russia will stick to it.”
Meanwhile, Estonia’s foreign minister said the ceasefire was “not working”.
For months, Ukraine and Russia have been exchanging strikes on energy infrastructure, disrupting energy supplies on both sides.
Moscow has said the installations it hits are legitimate targets as they support Ukraine’s military operation, while Zelensky has characterised Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russian territory as part of an effort to “reduce Russia’s ability to finance the war”.
Trump has been urging Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, so Russia can fulfil a recently struck deal to release diesel to the US and the global market.
The deal, which would temporarily undo sanctions on Russian imports – is Trump’s latest effort to lower domestic fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections in the US. It has faced criticism from Zelensky, European officials, and some US politicians.