Zelenskyy vows response as Russia strikes Ukraine power grid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed Monday to respond if Russian attacks on his country’s power grid continued, challenging an “energy ceasefire” that President Donald Trump had announced the previous day but that Zelenskyy said Kyiv had not agreed to.

“If Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire this winter, we will respond,” Zelenskyy told a gathering of European security officials in Warsaw. He said Trump’s Sunday announcement had surprised him. The post appeared on Truth Social while Russian drones were attacking Kyiv, The Guardian reported.

Trump wrote that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to immediately stop striking each other’s energy infrastructure. “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he said, without providing details. Zelenskyy called the purported deal “news to me,” according to Al Jazeera, but said a ceasefire could work if Washington ensured Russia respected it.

“We are waiting for the details of the conditions between the Americans and Russians, and we are waiting to see one specific step the Americans are ready to take,” Zelenskyy said Monday. “This energy ceasefire, it can work, and it can become a major step towards ending the war if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russians respect it.”

Zelenskyy said Russian drones continued to target Ukrainian energy facilities after Trump’s announcement. The Guardian reported that Russia struck a power station in Kharkiv hours after the announcement, as much of Kyiv was plunged into darkness. “It’s clear that Putin does not read Truth Social,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine wants an agreement that would ease pressure on its electricity grid before winter. Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, contributing to blackouts and water shortages, The Guardian reported. Ukraine, meanwhile, has repeatedly struck Russian oil refineries, arguing that energy revenue helps finance Moscow’s war.

The dispute follows Trump’s decision Friday to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports in an effort to lower fuel prices. Trump has blamed Ukraine’s refinery strikes for high diesel prices and told Zelenskyy to “damn well stop” them. He also said Ukraine needed a “new leader.” Zelenskyy called the sanctions decision “weak,” saying it would bring Russian President Vladimir Putin “billions” in additional revenue to wage war “even more intensely.” He said Ukrainians would choose their own leader and told ABC News he would organize elections if Putin agreed to a “total” 60-day ceasefire.

European officials questioned whether Russia would honor an energy truce. “We welcome the energy ceasefire when it holds,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday. “We haven’t yet seen that also Russia will stick to it.” Kallas said a deal focused on oil refineries would favor Russia, which has far more of them.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Keʂtutis Budrys criticized the easing of diesel sanctions, saying Europe’s approach was to increase pressure on Russia. Al Jazeera reported that the war involving Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have also kept oil prices elevated. On Monday, Brent crude traded at about $103.04 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate at about $90.96, the outlet reported.