Trump Announces Energy Cease-Fire Between Russia and Ukraine

President Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine have reached an energy cease-fire, stating it is "effective immediately." This development follows his recent unveiling of a diesel purchasing deal with Moscow, a move that had previously caused friction with Kyiv.

Trump shared the announcement on Truth Social, declaring, "Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Kyiv had been conducting strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, specifically refineries, in response to similar attacks by the Kremlin on Ukrainian territory. The Trump administration had attributed the rise in diesel prices to these Ukrainian actions against Russian refineries.

High diesel prices, which currently average $6.28 a gallon nationally according to the American Automobile Association, have presented a challenge for the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has stated that while the U.S. has halted imports from Russia, the Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have impacted the global supply and, consequently, prices in the United States.

Earlier on Friday, after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump announced that the U.S. intended to purchase significant quantities of diesel fuel. These planned purchases included 300,000 tons immediately, with an additional 500,000 tons scheduled for November and 1,000,000 tons to follow.

This diesel deal drew criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who characterized it as a "betrayal." The agreement also faced bipartisan backlash. Some critics raised concerns about the legality of the purchase, citing the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022, which may require congressional approval for such transactions.