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Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’ met with UK backing as Russian strikes pound Ukraine’s power grid

While Washington declares an immediate halt to attacks on energy sites, Kyiv reports relentless bombardment and the UK throws its weight behind the call.

Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’ met with UK backing as Russian strikes pound Ukraine’s power grid
Author
Democracy News Live Desk
Date
12 Oct 2026
Read
2 min
Trump declares an immediate energy ceasefire on Truth Social

On his Truth Social account, former President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached for an immediate ceasefire focused on energy infrastructure. He wrote, "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter." The statement presented the deal as already in effect, though neither Moscow nor Kyiv had publicly confirmed the arrangement at that moment.

Coverage
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham throws his support behind the call

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a statement endorsing the US initiative. He said, "The UK strongly supports President Trump's call today for a sustained energy ceasefire to start now." Burnham's backing added support to the proposal.

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Trump sows confusion by announcing an "energy ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia. The comments sparked astonishment in Kyiv, silence from Moscow and support from Ukraine's Western allies https://t.co/Bc4dDSHYl7 https://t.co/Nxxgv1HlqN

12:40 AM · 12 Oct 2026
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Zelenskyy welcomes the idea but details ongoing Russian strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded with cautious optimism, welcoming the prospect of a ceasefire while underscoring that the reality on the ground remained hostile. He noted that Russian forces had continued to target energy assets throughout the day, including a strike on a power plant in Kharkiv. Zelenskyy also remarked, "Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian \"shaheds\" all day today."

The Ukrainian leader said 150 people had been killed and 700 wounded in those attacks.

The scale of the bombardment is laid out in stark numbers

According to Zelenskyy's report, Russian forces had carried out more than 200 strikes on electricity‑generation and transmission facilities. Additionally, they had hit gas and oil infrastructure 17 times. The Ukrainian leader said 150 people had been killed and 700 wounded in those attacks.

A specific example brings the abstract numbers into focus

The strike on the Kharkiv power plant was among the attacks on energy infrastructure reported by Zelenskyy.

The situation remains fluid as confirmation from Moscow and Kyiv is awaited

Despite the declarations from Washington and London, both the Russian and Ukrainian governments had yet to verify the existence of an energy ceasefire.

Where things stand: competing statements and an uncertain front line

Andy Burnham was recorded as supportive of the US call, Donald Trump as neutral in his framing, Vladimir Putin as critical, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as neutral.

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