Zelenskyy sounds alarm as Russia hits Ukraine’s energy sites despite Trump’s ceasefire announcement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday accused Russia of continuing to attack Ukraine’s energy facilities despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement about energy infrastructure ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy said Russian strikes had hit a power plant in Kharkiv, a gas production facility and a civilian gas station.Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had learnt about the purported agreement through media reports. He said Russia had not publicly confirmed its acceptance of the proposal.“We support it, but I have not heard approval of this proposal from the Russian side,” Zelenskyy said.Referring to Trump's announcement on Truth Social, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had been “horribly surprised" by the strikes that followed the US president's post.“It was clear that Putin does not read Truth Social,” Zelenskyy said.Trump had announced the purported agreement on Sunday, saying it took effect immediately but providing few details about its terms or implementation."Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to honour ceasefireIn a separate statement on Monday, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's willingness to support the ceasefire and said Kyiv was awaiting details from Washington. He stressed that Russia must also agree to the arrangement for it to work.In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side. For our part, Ukraine always FULLY supports steps toward de-escalation, the protection of lives, and the decisions needed to end the war and guarantee lasting peace."Zelenskyy also said Ukraine was prepared to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Moscow halted strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. He urged Trump to press the Kremlin to agree to the arrangement.Warning of a possible escalation if Russia refused to comply, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would respond if Moscow did not agree to an energy ceasefire during the winter."We are waiting for the details of the conversation between the Americans and the Russians, and we are waiting to see what specific steps the Americans are ready to take," he said."This energy ceasefire can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war."Trump had previously announced a similar arrangement that did not result in a lasting halt to attacks. In a social media post on September 14, he said Russia and Ukraine had agreed “not to hit” each other's energy infrastructure, but provided no details about the proposal.Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the war, disrupting electricity, heating and water supplies for civilians. Ukrainian officials have described the strategy as “weaponizing winter” and fear Moscow could intensify attacks as temperatures fall.Ukraine has also targeted Russian energy facilities, including oil refineries deep inside Russian territory.EU chief doubts Russia will honour truceEuropean Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday welcomed the prospect of a halt to energy strikes, particularly with winter approaching, but questioned whether Russia would respect the arrangement.“We haven’t yet seen that also Russia will stick to it,” Kallas said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.“Personally, I would also welcome that the ceasefire would include people not being killed, not only energy.”Kallas also pushed back against Trump's comments on Saturday that Ukraine should elect a new president. She said elections should not be held during the war without a ceasefire.Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna questioned Trump's reported deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel amid high fuel prices in the US.Tsahkna said he did not believe the deal “is actually going to change anything” in terms of fuel prices, adding that it was ”much more connected to the domestic situation in the U.S."Ukrainian and European officials have criticised the reported diesel arrangement, arguing that it could help fund Russia's war effort.Zelenskyy says elections impossible during warZelenskyy said holding elections in Ukraine remained impossible while Russian attacks continued, including strikes carried out during the day and night.“Under such circumstances, it’s impossible to hold elections,” he said.However, he added that he would be ready to work towards holding elections if Ukraine secured a full ceasefire lasting at least 60 days.His remarks came after Trump said on Saturday that it was time for Ukraine to have a new president and criticised Zelenskyy for not doing enough to end the war.Russian drone attack kills three in Kharkiv regionA Russian drone attack on the village of Pisochyn in the Kharkiv district on Sunday evening killed three people and injured nine others, including children, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.Investigators said the attack took place at around 7.25pm in a densely populated area near apartment buildings and grocery stores. It also sparked a fire.Ukraine's Air Force said its air defences had shot down or suppressed 89 of 121 Russian drones launched overnight into Monday. The attack also involved a Kh-59 guided air-to-surface missile and included 76 jet-powered Shahed-type drones.Strikes were recorded at 15 locations, while debris from downed drones fell at four sites.Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences had intercepted 151 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, and the waters of the Black Sea.In a separate statement, the ministry said Russian forces had carried out overnight drone strikes on unspecified Ukrainian port infrastructure and a bulk carrier heading to Odesa with military cargo on board.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.