The energy truce announced by Donald Trump never began. Russia and Ukraine have never stopped their mutual offensives on their opponent’s refineries and power plants. The capitals also denied having reached an agreement on the stop. It is not the first time that the president of the United States has communicated an agreement that was never reached.
The denials of the capitals
Kiev was the first to respond to the tycoon’s statements. “The announcement of the ceasefire was news to me. But if the Russians agree to an energy truce, Ukraine will agree,” President Volodymyr Zelensky declared to Axios. “If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire will begin: we are ready and will accept it,” he added.
Then came the Russian denial during the Italian night. Russia has not yet agreed to any ceasefire with Ukraine, a White House official said Axios. If anything, Donald Trump’s “energy truce” announcement referred to a possible agreement that would see both sides stop attacking refineries. “Trump seems to be trying to make a partial truce a reality by leveraging his will. For the moment, however, Russia has not accepted any form of ceasefire, while Ukraine is asking for one that prohibits attacks on power plants”, writes the always well-informed online site.
Meanwhile, attacks from both sides continued. The Ministry of Defense announced that it had shot down 32 drones headed for Moscow.
What’s behind it
Trump’s announcement came as diplomatic talks continue. As reported by New York Timesthe president of the United States would have liked to accelerate the talks between the two sides. The envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff during the UN general assembly would have offered Moscow three incentives to reach at least an energy truce: resumption of Belarusian exports of potassium-based fertilizers, sale of shares of the Lukoil company to Middle Eastern partners and the unblocking of Russian assets. Ukraine for its part would have requested compensation or military aid if Russia did not respect the pact.