So, in exchange for half a day’s worth of diesel, Donald Trump has received… a slap in the chops. On Sunday, the president declared – pretty much unilaterally – that an ‘energy ceasefire’ was in place between Russia and Ukraine, taking both nations by surprise.
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Trump announces energy truce, Russia breaks it two hours later
Trump, who also called for Ukraine to ‘find a new leader’ and replace Zelensky on Saturday, appears to have fully pivoted to a pro-Moscow position. Or at least, has stopped trying to hide it. The 80-year-old was crowing about a shock ‘diesel diel’ brokered with Vladimir Putin in the last 48 hours.
This, however, seems to be a hollow and confusing move. Experts believe the total amount of diesel that will flow from Russia to the US will barely last more than 14 hours. There are also a host of logistical challenges which make the agreement hard to uphold. To all intents and purposes, the deal is symbolic.
With Donald Trump in desperate need of a win ahead of the midterm elections, the administration is attempting to bring down diesel prices, but without taking any practical steps to end the conflict with Iran and open up the Strait of Hormuz. His latest idea to calm the markets? Declare an energy truce…
More strikes on Ukraine energy sites leaves Trump with egg on his face
Mr. Zelensky was the first to publicly acknowledge the statement, and although he denied any prior knowledge of the agreement, he welcomed any move that would encourage an end to Russian aggression. So, how did Trump’s new besties in the Kremlin reward his attempts at peace-making?
They royally took the p*ss. Following the White House announcement at 15:30, news of a Russian strike on the CHP-5 power plant in Kharkiv was confirmed at around 17:30. Officials in the Russian government also denounced the energy ceasefire, denying that anything had been agreed on that front.
In an update posted to social media, Zelensky confirmed the strikes in Kharkiv, and also noted a drone attack on a power plant in Kyiv. He pointedly mentioned that this took place AFTER the energy truce announcement. Whether Trump will pour scorn on Putin for this incursion remains to be seen.
“I briefed the President on the brutal Russian strikes that continue unabated. Just before our conversation, the Russians struck a power plant in Kyiv, and there were strikes on energy facilities in the Kharkiv region. This happened AFTER the President made his statement about an energy ceasefire.” | Volodymyr Zelensky