Sunday, October 11, 2026

Trump Announces Partial Ceasefire in Ukraine War as Zelenskyy Says Deal Is ‘News to Me’

THE GUARDIAN: Ukrainian president earlier rejected US call for Kyiv to stop bombing oil refineries, saying Moscow must first end attacks on energy infrastructure

Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Volodymyr Zelenskyy said if Putin agreed to the energy ceasefire then Ukraine would do the same. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Donald Trump has announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, apparently without consulting Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the deal to stop long-range attacks was “news to me”.

In a social media post, the US president claimed the two sides had reached an agreement. “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he wrote on Truth Social.

He offered no further details. Zelenskyy said he was surprised by the announcement but would agree to it if Vladimir Putin did the same. “If President Trump negotiated it with Putin – please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready and we will accept it,” the Ukrainian president told the Axios website.

Earlier, Zelenskyy rebuffed Trump’s demand made on Saturday that Kyiv stop bombing Russian oil refineries. Zelenskyy said Moscow had to first halt its own “brutal” attacks on his country’s energy infrastructure.

Any deal to end long-range drone strikes by Ukraine on targets inside Russia would have to be “reciprocal”, he said. It should be backed by “real guarantees” – meaning punitive measures against Moscow from Ukraine’s allies, including the US. » | Luke Harding | Sunday, October 11, 2026

Has there ever been a president as ridiculous as this before, one who changes sides in the middle of a war, and one who makes up his own reality? — © Mark Alexander