Zelensky rebukes Trump over Russia diesel deal as six energy sites hit

Zelensky said Russia struck at least six energy targets during deadly airstrikes across Ukraine on 12 October 2026, showing it had no interest in an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump. Trump announced the purported energy ceasefire days after unveiling a deal to buy diesel from Russia, which Zelensky criticised as a reversal of years of Western policy aimed at isolating Russia's economy.politico.eu+1

The rebuke matters because it exposes a widening divide over how to end the war in Ukraine. Trump is seeking to bring down US fuel prices by allowing more Russian diesel onto global markets, while European leaders argue that restricting the Kremlin's energy revenues remains essential to forcing Putin to end the war. EU governments reject Trump's claim to have secured an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

What the ceasefire claim changed

Zelensky said on X that it was increasingly evident Russia was unwilling to accept an energy ceasefire proposed by the United States and intended to continue its air attacks. In earlier comments by video link to a conference in Poland, Zelensky identified two of the targets as a gas facility and a petrol station, both hit by Russian drones. He said Ukraine had carried out no attacks on Russian refineries overnight.

Trump announced the ceasefire on 11 October 2026, saying it would take effect on Sunday. Zelensky said he had not been aware of such an arrangement but confirmed Ukraine's readiness for a truce if Russia also stopped attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Trump later said both sides had violated the truce: "I have to look at it. Because there have been violations on both sides."

The diesel deal is intended to release an additional 4.8 million tons of Russian diesel onto global markets over the coming months, easing pressure on fuel supplies and prices. European and Ukrainian officials question whether the supply will make a meaningful difference, saying the total volume amounts to only around 10 days of US demand. A senior EU official said the additional fuel would have a minimal impact on US prices.

Where the diesel numbers came from

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Putin's point man for oil, said Moscow would be able to return diesel exports to levels above those Trump outlined under the deal. Trump defended the deal as US lawmakers from both major parties complained that it appeared to violate US law. Trump's envoys told Ukrainian officials last week that the deal sought to draw Russia back to talks on ending the war.

European diplomats see Trump's shift toward easing restrictions on Russian energy as driven by domestic political concerns ahead of next month's US midterm elections. Trump promised during his 2024 campaign to bring gasoline prices below $2 a gallon, and now faces an electorate paying more than twice that amount. A second EU official said: "This is about the midterms."

EU foreign ministers on 12 October 2026 added 1,569 new names to their sanctions list of banned individuals and businesses, billed as the largest single package to date. The European Commission is also preparing a 23rd package of sectoral sanctions, which Kyiv expects to be circulated to EU governments by the end of the year, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

How Europe responded to the split

European leaders plan to demand tougher sanctions on Russia at a summit on Thursday, calling for measures targeting Moscow's oil revenues. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: "Russia is not interested in deescalation, ceasing fire or peace." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: "Russia will only negotiate in good faith under pressure." Both spoke on Monday at a security conference in Warsaw.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Zelensky's proposal for a full 60-day truce, saying Putin and other officials had repeatedly stated Russia did not want a ceasefire but wanted long-term peace. Zelensky said elections, suspended during wartime, could be held if Moscow agreed to a full ceasefire for 60 days. Russian strikes on 12 October 2026 killed at least two people in a Kyiv high-rise and at least six others in other regions.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on Washington to align its approach with Brussels, pointing to Russia sanctions legislation championed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, which Trump signed into law last month but has yet to fully implement. Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw told the Warsaw conference: "I think we need to be implementing the Russia sanctions bill."hindustantimes.com

European leaders will press for further sanctions at the European Council summit on Thursday, while the European Commission's 23rd package of sectoral sanctions is expected to reach EU governments by the end of the year. Trump's envoys told Ukrainian officials last week that the diesel deal sought to draw Russia back to talks, and European officials said the administration's longer-term intentions toward Kyiv may become clearer over the coming weeks.