[Edaily Reporter KIM YOON JI ] U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 11th (local time) that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine had taken effect immediately. However, doubts are being raised about President Trump’s announcement, as Russia continues to carry out airstrikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
President Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on energy facilities. Regarding the agreement, he urged, “It takes effect immediately. Do not violate it,” but did not specify the exact scope or duration of the agreement.
This announcement came as President Trump was strongly pressuring Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. President Trump has argued that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries have caused diesel prices to rise, which is dealing a political blow to the Republican Party ahead of next month’s U.S. midterm elections.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the U.S. online media outlet Axios that this was “the first time he had heard of it.” Via Telegram, he stated, “Ukraine supports a ceasefire, and it is important that Russia also supports it,” adding, “We are awaiting a detailed explanation from the U.S. side.”
In a subsequent address to the nation, President Zelenskyy stated that even after President Trump’s announcement, Russia continues its attacks, including an airstrike on a combined heat and power plant in the major Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Earlier, in mid-September, President Trump had announced that an agreement had been reached to halt attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine. At the time, neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed that an actual agreement had been reached.
Since the outbreak of the war in Iran this past February, international diesel prices have risen sharply, increasing the political pressure on President Trump and the Republican Party. The likelihood is growing that the opposition Democratic Party will secure a majority in the Senate, the House of Representatives, or both chambers following the midterm elections.
In response, President Trump announced on the 9th of this month that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to the international market as part of measures to lower energy prices. This has sparked a wave of bipartisan criticism, including a joint statement issued that same day by Republican and Democratic senators—such as Senator Tom Tillis (R-North Carolina)—urging President Trump to withdraw the diesel supply agreement signed with Russia. Critics point out that this violates a law banning imports of Russian energy until Russia ceases its invasion of Ukraine.
Experts have analyzed that this agreement between President Trump and Russia is unlikely to lead to a sustained reduction in fuel prices. Under this contract, 300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel fuel—equivalent to approximately 2.25 million barrels—will be immediately supplied to the U.S. and international markets. This is 1.5 times the U.S.’s daily diesel export volume of 1.5 million barrels. Since the additional supply amounts to only about half a day’s worth of U.S. exports, experts say it will be difficult to sustainably drive down international diesel prices.