Live: Moscow refuses to say if Trump’s touted ‘energy ceasefire’ between Ukraine, Russia is in place
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By: FRANCE 24 A rescue worker puts out a fire at residential houses destroyed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine on October 11, 2026. © Andrii Marienko, AP Russia declined to say on Monday whether an agreement had been reached with Ukraine to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, a day after US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced an "energy ceasefire" that seemed to catch both Kyiv and Moscow off guard. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
"Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections," Zelensky told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia wanted a long-term peace deal rather than a temporary ceasefire.
"In the Kremlin, both President Putin and officials at other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire," said Peskov. "We want long-term peace and are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it."
Russia has long pressed Ukraine to hold elections and says that its failure to do so makes Zelensky an illegitimate leader. Elections in wartime are prohibited by Ukrainian law.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he had not noticed "any energy truce on the Russian side" after US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced an "energy ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia.
There can only be progress "if there is a real truce on both sides", Macron told reporters, saying "the facts show Russia has continued to bomb energy infrastructure (in Ukraine) in the last hours".
Residents and rescuers take shelter in the basement of an apartment building during a threat of another Russian drone strike after an attack on Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine on October 12, 2026. Photos: Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, Reuters
The European Union on Monday formally added almost 1,600 new individuals and entities to its sanctions blacklist over Russia's war on Ukraine.
"This is the single largest expansion of our sanctions list since Russia started its war. Europe is again showing a united front. More than half are connected to the production chain for ballistic missiles," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country would retaliate if Moscow did not agree to the "energy ceasefire" that US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced on Sunday.
"If Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire, we will respond," Zelensky said in a video address to a security forum in Warsaw. "If Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes against its oil refineries and oil exports, then Russia must stop its strikes against our energy system and critical infrastructure and stop killing our people."
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that new European sanctions are making it more difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue the war in Ukraine.
"Today, the EU is adding more individuals and companies to its sanctions list than ever before – well over 1,600 in total. Nearly all of them play a direct or indirect role in Russia’s war efforts," Wadephul said in a statement.
European Union envoys approved 1,646 new designations last week under the bloc's sanctions regime for Russia, with most targeting the country's military-industrial complex, diplomats said.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the European Union should designate the Russian military intelligence agency GRU as a terrorist organisation.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed US President Donald Trump's unilateral announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, though she added she would prefer one "which includes people not being killed".
She said it was not clear whether Russia would abide by the ceasefire, and called for the US to impose sanctions on Russia. Moscow has not confirmed that it has agreed to any ceasefire, and Trump's declaration seemed to catch Kyiv equally off guard.
"We would call the US to get the sanctions in place so that we could actually finish the war," Kallas said.
Australia said it backed an "energy ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia, while urging Moscow to "end its unjustified and unprovoked invasion" of its neighbour.
"Australia supports an energy ceasefire which is respected by Russia and contributes towards a just and lasting peace, on Ukraine's terms," an Australian foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement to AFP.
Russia's military has struck a vessel it alleged was carrying "military cargo" to Ukraine's port of Odesa, Russia's defence ministry said.
Most stock markets rose Monday as oil prices tumbled after US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine.
Both main crude contracts sank more than one percent following Trump's declaration, even as it sparked astonishment in Kyiv, which also said Moscow had struck multiple power plants in the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was seeking further details of the announcement, but added that "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well".
Russia has yet to confirm its agreement.
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