EU commissioner calls for independent EU-Ukraine peace strategy as Trump announces energy ceasefire
EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called for the European Union and Ukraine to develop their own independent peace strategy, writing on X that the EU has until now been Ukraine's sole significant financial donor and had counted on US political leadership to help end the war. The call came as US President Donald Trump announced that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would take effect from Sunday, 12 October, though shortly before his statement Russia struck an energy facility in Kyiv, causing blackouts across several districts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine supports the energy ceasefire and is awaiting details from the American side, while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an upcoming package of EU financial support for Ukraine to purchase drones and missiles.
Key points
- EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called for the EU and Ukraine to develop an independent peace strategy together
- US President Donald Trump announced on 11 October that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine takes effect immediately
- Shortly before Trump's statement, Russia struck an energy facility in Kyiv, causing blackouts in five districts
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine supports the ceasefire and is awaiting details from the American side
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an upcoming EU financial support package for Ukraine to purchase drones and missiles
- Kubilius stated the EU had until now been the sole significant financial donor to Ukraine and had counted on US political leadership
Why it matters
Kubilius's call signals a possible shift in EU strategy toward a more independent European-Ukrainian approach to ending the war, underlining the EU's central financial role in supporting Ukraine and casting doubt on continued US political leadership on peace efforts. The energy ceasefire itself ties a specific de-escalation measure to a sector that has been heavily targeted throughout the war, but Russia's strike on a Kyiv energy facility shortly before Trump's announcement raises immediate questions about adherence and the credibility of the agreement.
What happened
On 11 October 2026, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would take effect immediately and called on both sides not to violate it. A White House representative clarified that the arrangement concerned halting strikes on oil refineries on both sides, with a possible next step being an agreement to stop strikes on power plants and energy grids. Roughly one hour before Trump's statement, Russia struck an energy facility in Kyiv, causing emergency blackouts in the Obolon, Shevchenkivskyi, Desnianskyi, Podilskyi, and Dnipro districts. Zelensky said the announcement came as a surprise and that Ukraine supports the ceasefire but is awaiting details from the American side. The same day, Zelensky held phone calls with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Von der Leyen said she supports the push for a ceasefire to secure global food supply and energy infrastructure, and announced an upcoming EU financial support package for Ukraine to purchase drones and missiles. EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius wrote on X that the EU should develop its own independent peace strategy together with Ukraine, noting that the EU had until now been the sole significant financial donor and had counted on US political leadership.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
The available Ukrainian sources foreground the EU perspective through Kubilius's call for an independent EU-Ukrainian peace strategy, framing the EU as a leading actor that should not rely on US leadership. They also emphasise Zelensky's stated support for the energy ceasefire while flagging that Kyiv learned of it only via Trump's announcement and has not received details from the American side.
Background
The EU has been the largest financial backer of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, while US-led diplomacy has shaped international efforts to end the conflict. Energy infrastructure in Ukraine has been one of the most frequently targeted sectors by Russian strikes, including repeated attacks on thermal and hydro generation facilities.