While US officials were making calls across Europe, Trump unexpectedly announced an “energy truce.”
Donald Trump’s administration wants Ukraine to stop striking Russia’s energy sector and is resorting to harsh threats to achieve this. The mechanism through which Kyiv receives American weapons could be jeopardized, the Financial Times reports, citing European officials. This information comes from UNIAN, as reported by the PromPolitInform portal.
According to the publication, US representatives made calls to European capitals and Kyiv on Saturday and Sunday. The goal of the calls was to secure a halt to attacks on Russian oil refineries. The sources speaking to the FT either received such calls themselves or are aware of their content.
It emerged that Washington threatened to curtail intelligence sharing with Ukraine and halt the PURL (Priority Ukrainian Requirements List). Through this mechanism, European partners purchase American weaponry for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“They are calling Kyiv… they are calling everyone [in Europe],” said one official who received a call from a US defense department representative. Among those contacted by the Americans, the publication names Pavlo Palisa, a military advisor to Zelenskyy who previously commanded the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
Meanwhile, the White House neither confirmed nor commented on the calls.
Energy Truce
However, as the publication notes, Trump surprised both Kyiv and the Europeans—whom his own team had been pressuring—on Sunday.
On the social network Truth Social, the US President stated that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop striking each other’s energy infrastructure.
“An ENERGY TRUCE in the war between Russia and Ukraine is effective immediately. Both sides have agreed. Do not violate it!” Trump wrote.
A senior official in Zelenskyy’s circle told the FT that Kyiv was reeling from yet another attack at the very moment Trump’s statement appeared.
“Right now, our repair crews are restoring electricity and water supplies in Kyiv [following recent Russian strikes]… No one had heard [about the truce],” he said.
Zelenskyy’s Reaction
At the same time, Zelenskyy admitted in a conversation with Axios that Trump’s statement regarding an energy truce was news to him. However, the President assured that Kyiv would support such an agreement if Moscow agreed to it, and asked Washington to specify a start date. It is currently unknown whether Moscow has agreed to such a truce. “If President Trump has reached an agreement on this with Putin, please tell us when the truce begins. We are ready, and we will accept it,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
Later, in his evening address, Zelenskyy announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had already received all relevant orders regarding the energy truce. At the same time, the President noted that Kyiv is still awaiting specifics from Washington regarding its negotiations with Moscow.
