Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to strike back against ongoing Russian assaults targeting Ukraine's electricity infrastructure as European officials voiced support for Kyiv during a diplomatic disagreement with Washington over oil sanctions.
Addressing European security officials at a summit in Warsaw, the Ukrainian leader stated that his country would respond if Moscow persists with its winter campaign against the power grid. The remarks followed a social media announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding an energy ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, which Zelenskyy noted had not been agreed upon by either party. The Ukrainian president remarked that he was surprised by the post, which was published while Kyiv was under attack by drones, and added that Russian forces subsequently struck a power station in Kharkiv while parts of Kyiv experienced blackouts.
Ukraine is seeking a mutual energy ceasefire to relieve its power network ahead of the winter season, though Russia has not agreed to halt infrastructure strikes. European leaders expressed solidarity with Kyiv, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating that they welcome an energy ceasefire when it holds, but noted that Moscow has not demonstrated a willingness to comply.
Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the Baltic states criticized a recent US decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel imports. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys argued that the measure undermines transatlantic unity and fails to address the situation properly, asserting that the preferred approach is maintaining pressure on Moscow.
Russia has intensified its use of drones and ballistic missiles against Ukrainian infrastructure ahead of colder months, causing early blackouts and water shortages. Trump's proposed framework aimed to stop strikes on oil refineries, a concept critics noted disproportionately benefits Russia, which possesses a larger refinery network. Trump had previously blamed Ukrainian refinery strikes for high diesel prices, while Zelenskyy criticized the lifting of diesel sanctions as a move that would provide Moscow with additional war revenue and dismissed Trump's suggestion that Ukraine needs new leadership, noting that elections depend on the will of Ukrainians and require a comprehensive 60-day ceasefire from Putin.