Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday accused Russia of violating a ceasefire which US President Donald Trump claimed had been agreed over the weekend.
Trump announced unilaterally on social media on Sunday evening that “both parties” had agreed to an “energy ceasefire” which was “effective immediately.”
There was immediate confirmation from Moscow and Zelenskyy told the news site Axios within minutes of Trump’s claim that the ceasefire was “news for me.”
On Monday morning, Zelenskyy told the annual Warsaw Security Forum that there had been “Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced President Trump” overnight, while the mayor of the northeastern city of Kharkiv reporting at least 12 injuries in attacks on energy facilities.
“It was clear that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin does not read Truth Social,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Trump’s social media platform.
“If Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes against its oil refineries and oil exports, then it must stop its strikes against our energy system and critical infrastructure and stop killing our people,” he said via video link, adding that he learned about the apparent ceasefire through the media.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Zelenskyy: Ukraine ‘will respond’ if no ceasefire
Zelenskyy expressed readiness in principle to back an agreement to refrain from attacks on energy infrastructure, but said such a ceasefire must be backed up by security guarantees.
“This ceasefire, it can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russians respect it,” he said.
“We are waiting for the of the conditions between the Americans and Russians, and we are waiting to see one specific step the Americans are ready to take.
“If Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire, we will respond.”
EU: No sign of Russia sticking to ceasefire
The European Union‘s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg that the bloc would “welcome the energy ceasefire if it holds” but added: “We haven’t yet seen that Russia will also stick to it.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also insisted that a “real ceasefire” be “respected by both sides” but said: “I have not noted, over the last 48 hours, any energy ceasefire coming from the Russian side.”
The Russian government said on Monday that President Putin would only consider a ceasefire for a single day in the event that Ukraine intended to hold a presidential election.
The Kremlin earlier rejected a 60-day election ceasefire idea proposed by President Zelenskyy.
“I do not think he deserves a respite,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
