Zelensky: Ukraine held back from Russian energy strikes for two days; Russia kept attacking
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 13 that Ukraine refrained from striking Russian energy infrastructure for two days after Trump announced an "energy ceasefire," while Russia continued attacks on Ukrainian energy and critical infrastructure across 19 regions. The statement was published in his Telegram channel.
Key points
- Zelensky said Ukraine did not strike Russian energy infrastructure for two consecutive days after Trump announced an "energy ceasefire."
- Zelensky said Russia continued to attack Ukrainian energy and critical infrastructure during the same two-day period, with 19 regions coming under Russian strikes.
- Trump announced the "energy ceasefire" on October 11, saying both sides had agreed.
- Axios reported the announced ceasefire covers only strikes on oil refineries.
- On October 10, Axios reported US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner warned in Miami talks that Trump would cut Kyiv's access to intelligence if Ukraine did not stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.
- CNN reported the Trump administration warned Kyiv and European allies it could suspend intelligence sharing and European purchases of US arms for Ukraine if strikes on Russian energy targets continued.
- Zelensky said Kyiv is ready for reciprocal steps to reduce tension but that pressure on Moscow needs to be increased.
Why it matters
Zelensky's statement is the first public test of whether the "energy ceasefire" announced by Trump on October 11 is being honored. It frames Ukraine as having exercised restraint while Russia did not, reinforcing Kyiv's diplomatic position that any de-escalation must be mutual and that pressure on Moscow needs to continue. The exchange also comes against a backdrop of reported US threats to suspend intelligence sharing and arms procurement if Ukraine keeps striking Russian energy targets, raising the political cost for Kyiv of any future energy strikes.
What happened
On October 13, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his Telegram channel that Ukraine had not struck Russian oil refineries or energy infrastructure for two consecutive days after US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" on October 11, claiming both sides had agreed. Zelensky said that during the same two-day period Russia continued to attack Ukrainian energy facilities and critical infrastructure, with 19 regions coming under Russian strikes. He said Kyiv is ready for reciprocal steps to reduce tension but that pressure on Moscow needs to be increased. According to Axios, the announced ceasefire covers only strikes on oil refineries.
Background
The "energy ceasefire" was announced by Trump on October 11; Axios reported it concerns only strikes on oil refineries. On October 10, Axios reported that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner warned in Miami talks that Trump would cut Kyiv's access to intelligence if Ukraine did not stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. The Financial Times reported the Trump administration threatened to halt the arms procurement system supplying Ukraine. CNN, citing two European officials, reported the Trump administration warned Kyiv and European allies that Washington could suspend intelligence sharing and European purchases of US arms for Ukraine if strikes on Russian energy targets continued. Zelensky said Kyiv is ready for reciprocal steps to reduce tension but that pressure on Moscow needs to be increased. Zelensky said wars end when the aggressor feels it has no ability to prolong the war.