Trump Claims Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire as Burnham Backs Call — But Moscow Stays Silent

Donald Trump has claimed that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire — and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has thrown Britain's weight behind the call. But within hours of the announcement, Ukraine's president said Russia was still striking Ukrainian power plants, raising serious doubts about whether the truce exists at all, according to PA Media, The Times and Firstpost.

The American president posted on social media on Sunday morning: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" He offered no further details, and the Kremlin gave no immediate response.

Burnham: "The UK strongly supports" Trump's call

The prime minister took to X on Sunday evening to endorse the move, according to PA Media. Burnham wrote that Russia had intensified its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure over the weekend, describing them as an attack on civilians "plunging them into cold and darkness."

"The UK strongly supports President Trump's call today for a sustained energy ceasefire to start now," he wrote. "I discussed this with Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday: Ukraine is ready if Russia stops its attacks. This is the best route to get energy and fuel back into world markets."

Burnham said he had reiterated his "complete solidarity" with the Ukrainian leader in a call on Saturday and plans to meet him in person in the coming days, PA Media reported.

Zelenskyy: the announcement was "news to me"

Ukraine's president appeared to have been blindsided. Zelenskyy told US outlet Axios that Trump's announcement was "news to me," The Times reported — but he quickly offered Ukraine's support, posting on X: "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side."

Then came the awkward reality check. In an evening address, Zelenskyy said Russia had attacked a power plant in Kyiv with a Shahed drone just before his conversation with the American side, leaving districts without power, according to Radio X citing Sky News. Later strikes hit energy facilities in the Kharkiv region. "All of this happened AFTER the President of the United States made his statement," he said. A Kharkiv power plant was struck in the evening, his office confirmed.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said the capital's water and power grid remained under attack despite the announcement. Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks on two cities on Sunday killed six people and injured 20 more, while Russian officials said one man was killed and two women wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike on the Bryansk border region, according to the same reports.

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Video: ITV News — Trump says Russia and Ukraine agree to an "energy ceasefire", but Kyiv says attacks continue.

Why now: the diesel deal rift

The ceasefire announcement landed at the end of a "difficult" 24 hours for Ukraine, as Burnham himself put it, according to PA Media. Days earlier Trump announced a deal to obtain millions of tonnes of diesel from Russia — a move that infuriated Kyiv, which called it a "weak decision" that would extend the war.

After Zelenskyy objected, Trump hit back by saying it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president," according to The Times and the Oldham Times.

Seven US senators, including four Republicans, released a statement on Sunday calling the diesel deal illegal, Firstpost reported.

What it means for energy prices

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News on Sunday morning that the pressure on Trump was familiar to Western leaders: midterm elections are weeks away and cost-of-living pressures are mounting. "No doubt President Trump is feeling the same pressure that lots of leaders are facing in terms of wanting to ease cost-of-living pressures, energy prices," Streeting said, according to the Oldham Times.

Diesel prices have rocketed in recent months on the back of the Iran conflict and the blocked Strait of Hormuz, alongside the war in Ukraine.

Whether the ceasefire is real remains the open question. A previous energy ceasefire agreed in March 2025 was broken by Russia, and one announced by Trump in mid-September was never confirmed by either side, Radio X reported.