Russian Strikes Cause Ukraine Power Outages

Power outages have been reported in eastern Ukraine following overnight Russian strikes, raising doubts over US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelensky Awaits Russian Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially expressed surprise at Trump’s announcement but later said Kyiv would support the proposed ceasefire if Russia agreed to the arrangement. Moscow has yet to publicly confirm its position on the proposal, which would involve both sides suspending attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.

Trump Pushes for Energy Truce

Trump has urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil infrastructure as Moscow seeks to fulfil a recently reached agreement to release diesel supplies to the United States and the wider global market. However, the reported strikes in Ukraine have raised questions about whether an agreement to halt attacks on energy facilities has actually been reached.

Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure Under Pressure

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure during winter since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022. Such attacks have threatened electricity supplies and placed additional pressure on communities across the country. A BBC correspondent in Kyiv suggested Trump may have announced the agreement prematurely, potentially in the hope of making the proposed ceasefire a reality. With Russia yet to confirm its participation, uncertainty remains over whether the arrangement will take effect.