KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes had hit energy infrastructure across his country hours after President Trump declared an energy ceasefire between the warring sides.
The Russian attacks -- including on gas infrastructure, a power plant and a substation -- come as the U.S. heaps pressure on Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries, and after Trump moved to allow Russia to export diesel to the U.S. in a bid to drive down American prices at the pump.
"Last night, Russian oil refineries were not burning. But at midnight, a Russian jet-powered Shahed struck a gas-production facility in Ukraine," Zelensky said in an address to the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday. "And there was also a Russian strike on an ordinary gas station, involving several drones."
Ukraine has long maintained that it would be prepared to halt drone and missile strikes on Russian oil facilities if Moscow stops its bombing campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has already caused widespread power cuts this fall.
Zelensky reiterated that pledge Monday, adding that European and other leaders support that approach. "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," he said.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that he couldn't share any comments regarding the announced energy ceasefire as contacts continued, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Overnight, a Russian jet-powered drone attack damaged critical equipment at a gas infrastructure facility in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian state oil-and-gas company Naftogaz said.
Another attack damaged a power substation in the northern region of Zhytomyr, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told journalists at a European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.
"No one should believe Putin's words. Look at his actions instead," Sybiha said, reiterating Ukraine's readiness for a reciprocal energy ceasefire.
In an attempt to draw the attention of American decision makers to what he called Russian violations, Zelensky said an effective energy ceasefire could be "a major step toward ending the war" if the U.S. steps in to ensure Russia abides by it.
Expressing his frustration with Ukraine's campaign against Russian refineries and the continuing war, Trump has called for Zelensky to be replaced as leader.
"I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," Trump told reporters Saturday, blaming Zelensky for the conflict that Russia started in 2022 and Kyiv's airstrikes for high diesel prices in the U.S. and worldwide.
Before this year's war between the U.S. and Iran, the Middle East was the world's top exporter of diesel, accounting for 19% of global exports last year, according to commodities-tracking service Kpler. North America had a 15% market share and Russia was the third-biggest supplier at 11%.
Disruptions to diesel shipments from Persian Gulf countries, along with attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea refineries, have also contributed to the rise in prices.
In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Zelensky reiterated that it is up to the Ukrainian citizens to choose how and when to vote, adding that he had conveyed to the American side what would be required for an election.
"Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days off. Total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections," Zelensky said, adding that security was a priority to hold any vote.
Peskov said President Vladimir Putin would be ready to issue "an order not to launch strikes against Ukraine on election day."
After Trump's previous call for elections in Ukraine last December, Zelensky said the country's security, military participation and legitimate legal framework were required for the process and asked Parliament to work on exploring the possibility of wartime elections. Martial law, in place in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, prohibits the holding of a vote.