Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that Kyiv is still waiting for specifics from Washington regarding an energy ceasefire with Russia that President Trump announced a day earlier, introducing doubt about whether the arrangement is actually in force.
In a post on X, Zelensky said, “Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it’s important for Russia to support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side.” He added that he had discussed the matter with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“From our Ukrainian side, there is always FULL support for de-escalation steps, protection of lives, and the necessary decisions to end the war and ensure lasting peace,” Zelensky wrote.
The Ukrainian leader’s comments came hours after Trump declared on Truth Social that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure “effective immediately.” But CNN reported that Zelensky was caught off guard by the announcement, citing a source close to him. Another Ukrainian official told the outlet, “We just read it as you did.”
The confusion underscores the fragility of any diplomatic opening between Washington and Kyiv, which have been at odds over Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports. Following a call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia is set to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel. Zelensky condemned the move on Friday, arguing it would funnel additional revenue to Moscow and prolong the war, now in its fifth year.
“Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will ‘repay’ the diesel with further terror and perfidy,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged.”
Trump fired back by suggesting Ukraine needs new leadership. “He wants to make problems for the world,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world.” The president also said Zelensky should “get a new leader who can make a deal.”
The exchange has inflamed bipartisan criticism in Congress, where lawmakers have already been pushing back on the diesel arrangement. A bipartisan outcry over the Russian diesel deal has been building for days, with some members introducing legislation to block Russian oil imports. The feud also threatens to overshadow any progress on the energy ceasefire, which remains unverified by Kyiv.
Zelensky’s public call for details suggests Ukraine is not yet treating the ceasefire as operational. His outreach to NATO and allied leaders indicates Kyiv is seeking to coordinate its response and avoid being sidelined in any U.S.-Russia understanding. The episode also highlights the broader uncertainty hanging over U.S. policy toward the war as Trump pursues a deal-making approach that has unsettled traditional allies.
For now, the energy ceasefire exists largely as a presidential announcement, with Ukrainian officials saying they have yet to receive the fine print. Whether Moscow will adhere to it—and whether Washington can bring Kyiv along—remains an open question.
