US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his claim that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is in effect, even as a Russian drone strike killed a woman in Kyiv and Ukrainian officials reported continued attacks on energy infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters as he left the White House for Ohio on Monday, Trump said: “Well, they agreed. Because I said, ‘You agree.’ That’s why they agreed. Because I said they agree.” When pressed about the reported Russian strikes, he added: “Well, I’d have to look at it and see, because there’s been violations on both sides.”
Deadly night in Kyiv
The latest violence came overnight when a Russian drone hit a 25-storey residential building in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, killing one woman and injuring at least five others, according to the city’s military administration. Earlier in the day, debris from Russian attacks sparked a fire in a private home in the same area, with at least two people injured in daytime strikes.
The attacks underscore the fragility of any truce, even one limited to energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that while Kyiv is ready to halt strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, Moscow has continued to target Ukrainian energy sites. His remarks echo earlier warnings that Russia ignored Trump’s ceasefire.
Trump’s social media post on Sunday offered few details but declared the energy ceasefire effective immediately, adding: “Do not break it!” On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm whether Russia had agreed to such a deal, saying only: “Contacts are ongoing.”
The ambiguity has left European capitals wary. EU foreign ministers have already pushed back on the broader Trump-Putin rapprochement, vowing to maintain sanctions pressure on Moscow. The bloc’s leaders are also watching closely as Trump pressures Kyiv while EU budget negotiations stall ahead of a summit.
For Ukraine, the stakes are existential. Energy infrastructure is not just a military target; it is the backbone of civilian life, heating homes and powering hospitals. Each strike deepens the humanitarian toll and complicates reconstruction efforts. The EU has pledged long-term support, but the immediate need is for a credible ceasefire that both sides actually honour.
Analysts note that even if an energy ceasefire were formally agreed, verifying compliance would be difficult. Satellite imagery and on-the-ground monitors could help, but neither side has shown a willingness to accept independent verification. The Kremlin’s evasive response suggests that Moscow may be using the talks to buy time while continuing military operations.
For now, the people of Kyiv are left to count the cost. The Darnytskyi district, a residential area far from the front lines, has become a grim reminder that Russia’s war reaches into the heart of Ukraine’s cities. As one resident told local media: “We are not safe anywhere.”
The coming days will test whether Trump’s insistence can translate into reality. European leaders, who have repeatedly stressed that any peace must be just and sustainable, are likely to press for concrete mechanisms rather than verbal assurances. The continent has closed ranks behind Ukraine, but the path to a genuine ceasefire remains as uncertain as ever.
