Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched attacks on thermal power plants in the eastern city of Kharkiv and the capital, Kyiv, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a mutual agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure.
The bombing of CHP-5 in Kharkiv resulted in at least two direct hits and ignited a fire, according to local authorities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strikes in an evening address, noting that the attacks occurred despite Trump’s earlier declaration of an “energy ceasefire.”
Trump took to social media on Sunday to announce that both nations had agreed to immediately stop targeting each other’s energy grids, urging compliance with the order. However, Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv was taken by surprise by the announcement, learning of it only through Trump’s posts rather than prior diplomatic channels. A senior source within Ukraine’s presidential office told ABC News that Zelenskyy was unprepared for the premature declaration.
Despite the surprise, Zelenskyy maintained that Ukraine remains willing to abide by the ceasefire provided Russia reciprocates. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian president had told ABC News’ Jon Karl that Ukraine desired an immediate halt to energy strikes, offering to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Moscow ceased its assaults on Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
“Ukraine is ready not to strike at Russian energy, and we are counting on Russia’s similar readiness,” Zelenskyy said. “Ukraine has proposed many de-escalation steps. Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia wants it.”
As of press time, the Kremlin has not issued a comment regarding the ceasefires or the subsequent attacks.
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