Trump doubts Putin will agree to energy ceasefire with Ukraine

US President Donald Trump privately doubts that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to a ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure before winter, the Kyiv Independent reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

The report said the doubts come as Washington presses both Kyiv and Moscow to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, an issue that has featured prominently in recent peace negotiations.

Trump has publicly urged Ukraine to stop targeting Russian energy facilities, while Moscow has yet to indicate that it is prepared to accept a reciprocal pause.

“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 13.

Zelensky has said Kyiv would support an energy ceasefire. Russia, meanwhile, has described the proposal as “a good idea” but has not publicly indicated that it is ready to accept it.

Trump’s doubts contrast with a more optimistic assessment from members of his team.

Following their latest trip to Russia, Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner returned with the impression that an energy ceasefire was possible, according to a person familiar with the peace talks.

“Donald is not as confident as his team,” the person said.

A White House official told the Kyiv Independent that Trump “remains optimistic” about securing a peace deal but did not address his doubts about an energy truce.

“The United States continues to play a constructive role in speaking to both sides in working towards bringing the war to an end,” the official said.

The Ukrainian side has also received “some indications from Russia” that Moscow is prepared to consider an energy ceasefire, another person familiar with the matter said, without elaborating on the indications.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin had seen Trump’s post about an energy ceasefire. According to him, Moscow considers it a very good initiative. Peskov said Russia would continue its dialogue with US representatives as part of the initiative.

Both Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly targeted each other’s energy infrastructure throughout the war.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov