In brief
President Trump declared on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire targeting energy links, a move that surprised Kyiv and was not immediately confirmed by Moscow. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the announcement “news for me” while Russia’s top spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered only vague comments, saying contacts were ongoing. Pro‑Kremlin outlets portrayed Trump’s statement as a “gift” that benefits Moscow, arguing that Russia needs only to sparingly target Ukrainian refineries if a ceasefire is to be honoured. The silence therefore leaves international observers uncertain about the exact nature of the deal and the Kremlin’s strategic calculations amid ongoing hostilities.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire on strikes to energy infrastructure, effective immediately.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the announcement “news for me,” while Russia has not publicly confirmed the deal.
When queried by reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “contacts are continuing” and that a statement would follow “once we have anything to say.”
Pro‑Kremlin media have described the announcement as a “gift” that benefits Moscow, arguing that Russia can simply refrain from targeting Ukraine’s remaining refineries if the ceasefire is to be respected.
In the broader context, Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian oil facilities have caused significant fuel shortages, and any continuation of such attacks might be used by Moscow to criticize US interests and sway domestic politics in the United States.
Meanwhile, Moscow’s silence suggests that the Kremlin sees Trump’s statement as tying Ukraine more than Russia, as the deal could limit Kyiv’s ability to strike back while offering Moscow leverage in broader negotiations.
