Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says Putin struck energy targets hours after Trump ‘ceasefire’ announcement

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Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Russia had continued strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of a bilateral ‘energy ceasefire’ between the warring nations.

The Ukrainian president said his country would support a truce over strikes on vital infrastructure after being caught off guard by president Trump’s shock announcement that a deal had already been agreed.

But Zelensky on Sunday evening claimed that Ukraine had come under continued Russian fire all day. He wrote on social media: “Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian “shaheds” all day today.

“There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening.”

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that the US is threatening to stop the procurement system, PURL, that provides Ukraine with weapons in order to press Kyiv to stop its deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Kyiv had publicly backed a truce on striking energy infrastructure before Trump announced on Friday plans to lift sanctions on Moscow to supply diesel to the US and global markets – much to Zelensky’s chagrin.

The diesel deal with Russia has proven controversial even within Trump’s own base as the president looks to bring down energy prices in the US ahead of the November midterm elections.

Britain will try to build bridges between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky after an explosive row erupted over the US President’s announcement of a deal to buy Russian diesel, defence secretary Wes Streeting has said.

President Trump called for new leadership in Ukraine on Saturday, after President Zelensky lashed out at the plan which he said would only bolster Russia’s attacks on his country.

Andy Burnham is due to meet Zelensky in person in the coming days, No 10 said on Saturday, after the PM spoke to the Ukrainian leader and “reiterated his complete solidarity” with Ukraine.

At least 23 people, including four children, were killed in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

In a post on X, he claimed that over the last week Russia has used around 1,450 aerial bombs, 75 missiles of various types, and more than 1,640 attack drones.

“The real cause of the war in Europe is Russia and Russia alone,” he wrote. “It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but Putin does not want to do so.

“Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure. Any de-escalation steps must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees.”

President Donald Trump said Saturday that “it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” railing at Volodymyr Zelensky, and claiming he has not done enough to end his country’s war that has raged since Russia invaded four years ago.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on his way to a rally in Tennessee, Trump said, “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,″ adding that ”for some reason (Zelensky) never does.”

“Zelensky could have settled this war many times, many many times, and he chooses not to,” Trump railed, after being asked about his deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply diesel to the U.S. in a bid to lower fuel costs ahead of the midterm elections.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will support a bilateral “energy ceasefire” with Russia, after being caught off guard by Donald Trump’s shock announcement that a deal had already been agreed.

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, the US president said: “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!”

The Ukrainian president said he had not heard of such a deal, but would agree to it if Russia did, according to Axios. Kyiv had publicly backed a truce on striking energy infrastructure before Trump announced on Friday plans to lift sanctions on Moscow to supply diesel to the US and global markets – much to Zelensky’s chagrin.

The Kremlin is still yet to acknowledge Trump’s claim to have established a ceasefire between the warring sides. Russia had reportedly sought sanctions relief as a concession for its adherence to a ceasefire earlier in the week.

The controversial diesel deal with Russia has proven controversial even within Trump’s own base as the president looks to bring down energy prices in the US ahead of the November midterm elections.

Trump hit out at Zelensky on Saturday, saying it was time for Ukraine to find a new leader after Kyiv struck Russian oil refineries. Zelensky said on Sunday he would hold new elections if Putin agrees to a 60-day “total ceasefire”.

Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit vote, as he warned voters in France and Germany about Moscow-backed efforts to influence their politics.

Burnham, who took over as Britain’s leader in July and said last month that Britain could consider rejoining the European Union in the future, is the first British prime minister to say openly there was evidence of Russian interference in the referendum a decade ago.

“I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was,” Burnham said in an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast released on Sunday.

Burnham did not spell out how he believed that Russia interfered in the referendum and gave no details on what evidence this statement was based.

The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia has previously denied meddling in the Brexit vote, casting Britain as gripped by anti-Russian hysteria.

Republican US Senator Thom Tillis on Sunday said President Donald Trump’s diesel supply ​deal with Russia may be illegal and will put American lives at risk, adding to bipartisan criticism of the arrangement announced by the president on Friday.

Trump said that Russia had agreed to supply ​diesel to global markets, and his administration temporarily lifted US sanctions on Russian fuel that were designed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its ‌war on Ukraine.

“I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law,” said Tillis, an influential Republican from North Carolina who is retiring from the Senate at the end of his term in January.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was waiting for the details of an energy ceasefire with Russia announced by US President Trump on Sunday, but that Ukraine supported such an agreement.

“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” the Ukrainian president said in a post on the Telegram app, noting that he had just discussed Trump’s announcement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alex Stubb.

“For our part, Ukraine always FULLY supports steps toward de-escalation, the protection of lives, and the decisions needed to end the war and guarantee lasting peace,” he added.

Andy Burnham, writing on social media, decries the weekend attacks on Ukraine.

He says he supports Donald Trump’s calls for an immediate energy ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow.

“Ukraine is ready if Russia stops its attacks. This is the best route to get energy and fuel back into world markets,” he says.

Trump on Friday announced a controversial deal with Russia to lift sanctions in exchange for Russia releasing diesel fuel to the US and global market.

At least 23 people, including four children, were killed in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

In a post on X, he claimed that over the last week Russia has used around 1,450 aerial bombs, 75 missiles of various types, and more than 1,640 attack drones.

“The real cause of the war in Europe is Russia and Russia alone,” he wrote. “It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but Putin does not want to do so.

“Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure. Any de-escalation steps must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees.”

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