Trump says Ukraine and Russia agreed to halt strikes on energy. Zelenskyy is not so sure.

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has poured cold water on his American counterpart Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure. Trump over the weekend blamed Kyiv’s strikes on Moscow’s refineries — not the U.S.-Israel war on Iran — for high diesel prices, then on Monday said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to halt attacks on energy targets. Ukraine, though, is skeptical. Russia has been barraging Ukraine’s ports, energy grid, fuel stations, and logistics with dozens of jet-powered drones and missiles for several years. The attacks, as well as Ukrainian counterstrikes on Russian infrastructure, have escalated in recent weeks. “Ukraine is not confident that Russia has any intention of adhering to any agreement,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, indicating that Ukraine won’t stop its attacks other than on a reciprocal basis. If partners can “ensure Russia’s genuine desire to refrain from striking our electricity, our other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, or the movement of food supplies, then we, of course, are ready to reciprocate with a corresponding absence of our own strikes,” he wrote. The Ukrainian leader claims that if there is a ceasefire, it must be long-term to be reliable, rather than a short-term deal allowing Russia to hold parliamentary elections on Sept. 18 – Sept.20. He said it must not be a tool to “secure a temporary easing of tensions over gasoline and diesel,” Zelenskyy said. “We await specifics from our partners,” Zelenskyy added. The Kremlin has not issued any comments on Trump’s announcement yet. Earlier today, its spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Trump’s call for Kyiv to stop attacks on “peaceful economic infrastructure,” but refused to say whether Russia will stop bombing Ukraine’s infrastructure if Kyiv agrees. Trump previously secured a three-day ceasefire in May, allowing Russia to hold Victory Day celebrations. On the same days, Moscow attacked Ukraine with 40 drones and a ballistic missile.