<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump on Sunday announced an immediate "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, a day after criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for targeting Russian energy infrastructure during the war and suggesting a change in Ukrainian leadership.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">"Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. "Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter." </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ukraine previously reported that strikes on refineries in cities including Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov, and Syzran had disabled more than half of Russia’s oil refining capacity. This development has raised concerns in the United States, where officials are relying on a new diesel agreement with Russia to help reduce fuel prices that have increased due to the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump has attributed rising oil prices in the U.S. to Ukraine’s actions during the war, while downplaying the impact of the conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To lower diesel prices in the U.S., Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement to supply the U.S. with Russian diesel fuel. The Trump administration had previously sought to unblock Russian diesel imports to reduce fuel costs in agriculture and transportation.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The agreement faced strong opposition from Zelensky, who argued that it would finance Russia’s military efforts. "That means more money for this war, more money to inflict suffering on us, without a doubt. It only feeds Putin and gives him the ability to fight even more," Zelensky stated.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zelensky indicated on Sunday that he is open to an energy ceasefire if Russia reduces its attacks on civilians. "If they want an energy ceasefire, we are open for this," he said. "Don’t attack us. Don’t kill our children. We will stop attacking your diesel. And I think it’s a fair deal." </p>