Zelenskyy Accuses Putin of Defying Trump's Ceasefire Push

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that Russia continued to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure even after former President Donald Trump announced what he described as an immediate energy ceasefire. Zelenskyy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of rejecting peace efforts and called for increased pressure on Moscow.

"We are ready today for energy ceasefire, as President Trump said. But I'm not sure that Putin is ready because even after yesterday's messages from the president about energy cease fire, Putin attacked our gas infrastructure," Zelenskyy told Fox News in an interview. He affirmed that Ukraine would honor the ceasefire, insisting that Kyiv had refrained from striking Russian energy facilities overnight.

"We didn't attack any energy objects on the territory of Russia because President Trump said that there will be an energy cease fire between Ukraine and Russia. And we didn't attack, but Russia attacked our gas stations, energy infrastructure, infrastructure and other things," Zelenskyy said. He described the attacks as Putin's response to Trump's initiative, adding, "The communication from Russia was very clear that they don't know anything about energy ceasefire."

Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate halt to attacks on energy facilities. However, Moscow has not confirmed accepting such an agreement, and the precise scope of Trump's proposal remains disputed. According to Axios reporting, a White House official indicated the proposal initially focused on halting attacks on oil refineries, with a broader ceasefire covering power plants and electricity grids potentially following. The official acknowledged that Russia had not yet agreed.

During the interview, Zelenskyy was pressed on whether Ukraine would halt attacks on Russia's oil-refining network, a point of contention amid rising global fuel prices. Zelenskyy argued that a ceasefire limited to refineries would not address Ukraine's primary vulnerability: its electricity supply.

"When we speak about energy ceasefire, it means only one thing: that they don't attack our energy infrastructure and we don't respond to their energy infrastructure. This is called energy ceasefire," he stated. When asked again about targeting Russian refineries, Zelenskyy offered a conditional commitment: "If Russia will not attack our energy, we will not attack the energy."

Trump has previously criticized Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries, asserting they contribute to higher fuel prices. He announced an agreement with Russia to release diesel supplies to the U.S. and global markets, a move that drew criticism from lawmakers concerned about providing Moscow with additional revenue. Zelenskyy challenged Trump's assessment of diesel price drivers, pointing instead to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Everybody understands that the price on diesel doesn't depend on our attacks on diesel in Russia," Zelenskyy said. "Everybody understands that it depends on the blocking of Hormuz Strait."

The interview also touched upon Trump's calls for Ukraine to hold new presidential elections. Zelenskyy responded, "If President Trump wants to change the leader in Ukraine, he has to know that only our people can change."

Zelenskyy stated he is ready for elections but emphasized that voting is impossible without a significant pause in hostilities. "I'm ready for elections. Really, we need a minimum 60 days for security of infrastructure to prepare for elections," he said, citing ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks as a threat to voters.

This exchange followed a series of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and residential areas. Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Washington, Denys Sienik, reported that Russian forces struck a power plant in Kyiv, disrupting electricity and water supplies, and subsequently attacked a thermal power plant in Kharkiv after Trump's announcement. Sienik stated that Russia had struck electricity generation and transmission facilities more than 200 times in the preceding week.

Reports indicated that three civilians were killed in a strike near a grocery store in the Kharkiv region, and five people were wounded in an attack on a residential high-rise. A witness in Pisochyn described a power plant being bombarded minutes after Trump's announcement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly rejected the prospect of a 60-day ceasefire for Ukrainian elections, arguing that European countries would use the pause to replenish Ukraine's weapons. "I don't think he deserves a respite," Lavrov said.

Critics of Trump's decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel have argued that it could provide Moscow with revenue while its military campaign continues. Carrie Filipetti, former deputy assistant secretary of state, questioned whether the arrangement would undermine U.S. leverage over Putin, stating, "If we want a real ceasefire, paying directly for Putin's war machine through this new diesel deal is not the way to do it."

However, Morgan Murphy, former head of public diplomacy for the Special Presidential Envoy to Russia and Ukraine, defended Trump's efforts, stating, "President Trump has consistently prodded both sides toward the only realistic outcome—negotiation." Murphy added, "An endless war of attrition benefits only the makers of weapons and coffins."

Zelenskyy also highlighted the human cost of the war, stating that Russian strikes were killing a significant number of civilians daily. "We want to end this war as quickly as possible. Ceasefire is a good first step from both sides. This is very important."