Washington Pushes for an Energy Ceasefire as Zelensky Questions Trump’s Claim of an Immediate Agreement
The United States is reportedly increasing pressure on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, with Washington potentially threatening to restrict intelligence sharing and access to American weapons supplies. The reported move has intensified tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as efforts to secure an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine face growing uncertainty.
According to the Financial Times, US officials warned Kyiv and several European governments that Washington could suspend intelligence sharing and disrupt the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, which enables NATO allies to procure American weapons for Ukraine.
European officials cited by the newspaper said Washington had contacted governments across Europe in an effort to stop Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the claims.
The White House did not immediately comment on the reported threats.
Trump Announces an Energy Ceasefire
The diplomatic dispute intensified after Trump unexpectedly announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it.”
However, the announcement quickly raised questions after Ukrainian officials indicated that no finalized agreement had been communicated to Kyiv.
When asked why both sides disputed the existence of an agreement, Trump maintained that the parties had agreed to the arrangement following his intervention. He argued that the war had caused devastating casualties and needed to end.
Trump also cited a figure of 32,000 people, mostly soldiers, killed during the month. That figure was part of his statement and was not independently verified in the supplied report.
Zelensky Seeks Reciprocal Commitments
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv supported ending attacks on energy infrastructure if Russia agreed to the same restrictions.
However, he indicated that Ukraine was still waiting for details about how the proposed arrangement would work.
For Kyiv, the key issue is whether Moscow will stop attacking Ukrainian power plants and other critical energy facilities while Ukraine refrains from striking Russian energy targets.
The Ukrainian position reflects concerns that an arrangement without clear terms or enforcement mechanisms could leave the country's energy infrastructure vulnerable to further Russian attacks.
Washington's reported pressure adds another complication. Restrictions on intelligence sharing or weapons procurement could affect Ukraine's ability to sustain its military operations while defending its territory.
Fresh Russian Attacks Raise Questions About the Truce
Within hours of Trump's announcement, Ukrainian officials reported additional Russian attacks on energy facilities, including the CHP-5 power plant.
Zelensky accused Moscow of violating the proposed pause, raising doubts about whether an effective ceasefire had been established.
Trump later acknowledged reports of violations, saying that breaches had occurred on both sides.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks continued across Ukraine. Emergency services reportedly recorded six deaths in incidents affecting areas including Dnipro, Kyiv, and the Kharkiv region. Other strikes injured civilians and damaged residential properties.
A drone attack in the Lviv region also reportedly triggered fires.
These incidents underscored the gap between the announcement of a proposed energy truce and the situation on the ground. Without a clearly defined agreement accepted by both sides, determining whether particular attacks constitute violations remains difficult.
Growing Diplomatic Uncertainty
The reported US threats highlight the increasing connection between Ukraine's military strategy and Washington's diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries are intended to disrupt fuel production and put pressure on Moscow's war economy. However, Washington's reported efforts to halt those strikes suggest that the Trump administration is seeking to reduce attacks on energy infrastructure as part of a broader attempt to end the conflict.
For Ukraine, the challenge is securing meaningful protection for its own energy facilities without losing access to critical American military support.
For Russia, an energy ceasefire could reduce the threat to its oil infrastructure, although its willingness to comply with reciprocal restrictions remains a central question.
The situation also places European governments in a difficult position as they continue supporting Ukraine while navigating Washington's diplomatic initiatives.
For now, no fully confirmed energy ceasefire has been established in the information presented. The reported threats against US military support also remain subject to independent verification.
The central question is whether Washington can persuade Moscow and Kyiv to accept a clearly defined and enforceable energy truce—or whether disagreements over the terms will further strain relations between Trump and Zelensky.
