Follow-Up: Zelenskiy Accuses Russia of Violating Trump's Energy Ceasefire After Kharkiv Plant Strike; EU Approves New Sanctions
(Follow-up) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Oct. 12 accused Russia of violating the energy ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump, after a strike on a thermal power plant in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, and urged the United States to ensure Moscow sticks to any agreement. Russia has yet to comment on the accusation, according to Reuters.
The plant hit was Kharkiv's CHP-5 thermal power plant. Ukrainian officials said it was struck at least twice on Sunday night and caught fire. Zelenskiy said the large-scale attack on the Kharkiv region killed three people and wounded nine others, including children. Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov separately said a missile struck a grocery store near Kharkiv, killing three people and injuring at least 22 others, including two children. Speaking to Fox News, Zelenskiy said Russian forces had also attacked Ukraine's gas infrastructure after Trump's announcement.
Zelenskiy said he was still awaiting details of the deal and had learned about it from the media. "There were Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump," he told the Warsaw conference by video link. "We are waiting for the details of the conditions between the Americans and Russians, and we are waiting to see one specific step the Americans are ready to take." He added that the ceasefire "can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russians respect it." He said Ukraine had carried out no attacks on Russian refineries overnight, but made clear that if Russia wants Kyiv to suspend those attacks, it must stop hitting Ukraine's energy system and critical infrastructure.
Trump announced on social media on Oct. 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire effective immediately, and unveiled a deal to buy diesel from Russia. Reuters noted that Trump, under pressure over high energy prices ahead of next month's U.S. midterm elections, had blindsided Kyiv and its European allies with the announcement, and that the diesel deal angered Ukraine. GSM reported Trump's ceasefire announcement and Kyiv's initial reaction on Oct. 11; this story covers the latest developments.
The European Union on Oct. 12 approved new sanctions targeting Russia's military-industrial complex and urged the U.S. to keep pressure on Moscow. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would prefer a ceasefire "which includes people not being killed" and that it was not clear whether Russia would stick to it. The Kremlin has previously rejected Zelenskiy's proposal of a 60-day full ceasefire to allow elections to be held, saying Russia will only discuss a long-term peace.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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