Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv power plant among the facilities hit after US president claims ‘energy ceasefire’, while Kremlin yet to confirm any deal
We are restarting our live coverage of the latest developments in Europe after Donald Trump’s announcement of what he called an energy ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Sunday evening that Russian strikes hit Ukrainian energy facilities despite the US president having claimed both sides had agreed to stop hitting each other’s energy infrastructure.
Nato Supreme Allied Cmdr Europe Alexus Grynkewich is due to deliver a warning to Russia during a security conference in Warsaw over the alliance’s ability to counter any attack from Moscow.
The Lithuanian foreign minister Kestutis Budrys said the EU should designate the Russian intelligence agency GRU as a terrorist organisation.
The Nobel memorial prize in economics, the final award in this year’s cycle, will be announced at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm from 10.45am UK time.
Trump’s ceasefire announcement came two days after he announced a controversial agreement to buy Russian diesel fuel – temporarily lifting US sanactions – prompting outrage from Ukraine and its European allies, who said it would embolden Moscow.
The Trump administration is threatening to stop the procurement system that provides Ukraine with weapons in order to press Kyiv to halt its deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, the Financial Times has quoted officials in Europe as saying. They said the US was lobbying European capitals and Kyiv in an attempt to end the attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Ukraine’s European allies pledged to increase pressure on Moscow in the wake of Trump’s Russian diesel announcement, with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney adding to the chorus on Sunday after a call with Zelenskyy, saying the diesel deal “is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe”. Germany foreign minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin continued to “fully support” Zelenskyy. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also backed Ukraine’s president “as he leads the fight for his people’s freedom”.
Trump earlier swiped at Zelenskyy when asked about criticism of the Russia diesel deal, saying it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” who would finally settle the war. Zelenskyy pushed back, telling US ABC News: “First of all, with all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader.”
Oil prices slipped on Monday on expectations of more Russian supplies after Trump’s truce claim. Brent crude futures fell 1.47% to $103.18 a barrel by 0154 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 1.68% to $90.31.
