With U.S. midterm elections approaching, Donald Trump stated publicly that Volodymyr Zelensky should be removed from office following an energy agreement reached between Ukraine and Russia. Trump also put forward a proposal for a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure between the two countries.
Zelensky indicated that Russia had shown no willingness to honour an energy ceasefire, pointing to strikes on six Ukrainian energy facilities carried out on Monday as evidence. He further alleged that a power plant in Kharkiv had been targeted by Russian forces in the hours following Trump's ceasefire announcement.
Drone attacks launched by Russia left a minimum of 22 people with injuries in Kharkiv, among them two children. Video released by local authorities showed a street in Kharkiv where an attack attributed to Russian forces left three people dead and twenty others with injuries. Among the locations reportedly hit were a sports complex and a residential tower of twelve storeys, and fire took hold across the upper levels of a nine-storey residential building after the structure sustained damage from a series of blasts.
A 13-year-old girl was among those killed after a strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, an attack that authorities have linked to Russian forces. Ukraine's air force stated that roughly 89 of the 121 drones launched by Russia overnight were brought down before reaching their targets.
According to a written statement from Zelensky, attacks on the country's electricity generation and distribution network exceeded 200 over the preceding seven days, with fatalities above 150 and the number of wounded climbing past 700. Zelensky called for an energy ceasefire and concrete de-escalation measures to be put into practice rather than discussed only through online channels.
Kyiv put forward a conditional halt to attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, with the offer contingent on Moscow adopting the same restraint. Under the arrangement, Trump stated that Russia would move promptly to deliver more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel — both to the United States and to buyers elsewhere around the world. He indicated that Moscow's contribution in November was put at 500,000 tonnes, with a further one million tonnes to follow in the period after that.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in his exchange with Zelensky, made clear that the proposed arrangement runs counter to what he characterised as a path toward stability across Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the revenue generated would go toward funding what he described as an unlawful and unjustified military campaign against Ukraine. Macron also indicated a readiness to coordinate efforts on bringing fuel prices down, though he cautioned against conceding ground to pressure from Moscow. Keeping maritime corridors open for energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea was among the priorities Macron put forward.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters the deal was designed to lower fuel costs for everyday consumers. A joint letter urging the president to walk away from the fuel agreement drew signatures from seven lawmakers — four Republicans and three Democrats — with Senator Susan Collins counted among the Republican signatories. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who held the top diplomatic post during Trump's first administration, characterised the move as an error in tactical judgment.
Targeting nearly 1,600 individuals and companies tied to Russia's defence manufacturing sector, the European Union's latest round of restrictive measures represents the broadest single addition to its sanctions list since hostilities in Ukraine began in 2022. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that pressure on Russia would not be eased. At a European forum, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk put forward the case for broadening the sanctions regime imposed on Russia. Germany, Estonia, and Lithuania each issued statements of support for Ukraine.
Talks over a potential energy ceasefire were described as active by the Russian side, though no details were made available. Moscow withheld support for the two-month ceasefire Zelensky had proposed, a pause he framed as an opening for Ukraine to hold a presidential election. Reports indicated that Vladimir Putin was prepared to pause strikes only on the day of the vote, though the Kremlin conveyed a preference for a comprehensive peace agreement.
