Kremlin doesn't confirm energy truce, rejects 60-day plan; Kharkiv hit overnight
Russia did not confirm on Monday that it agreed to President Trump's energy ceasefire. The Kremlin said talks were still going on, and it said no to Ukraine's plan for a 60-day truce. Overnight, Russian strikes hit a gas site and an energy plant in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian officials said.
The Kremlin on Monday did not confirm that Russia agreed to the "energy ceasefire" that President Donald Trump announced on Sunday. "Contacts are ongoing. As soon as we have anything to say on the matter, we will be sure to let you know," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Russian state media carried the remarks, The Kyiv Independent reported. Peskov also said no to a 60-day ceasefire plan from Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, The Kyiv Independent and Reuters reported. Overnight, Russia hit energy sites in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Reuters and LIGA.net reported.
Kharkiv's regional prosecutor said Russian forces attacked an energy facility on the city's outskirts. Naftogaz, the state gas company, said Russia hit its gas production site in the region overnight. The strike caused a fire. "The attack damaged critical equipment," acting CEO Sergii Fedorenko said.
Zelenskyy proposed the 60-day truce on Sunday so Ukraine could hold elections. "Please tell Putin: Give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections," he told ABC's "This Week," the Washington Examiner reported. Peskov said Moscow wants a lasting peace instead. "We want long-term peace and are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it," he said, according to Reuters.
Zelenskyy said Monday there were "Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump." He said the truce "can work" if the Americans "truly step in now and make sure Russians respect it." He has said Ukraine will stop hitting Russian refineries only if Russia stops its attacks on the power grid, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Trump's short post Sunday said the truce took effect at once and ended: "Do not break it!" Hours later, a power plant in Kharkiv was hit, Ukraine said. Trump made a similar claim on Sept. 14, but nothing came of it. The post came days after he made a deal to buy Russian diesel. That deal angered Kyiv.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, welcomed a pause but said, "We haven't yet seen that also Russia will stick to it."
What we know: Moscow says contacts are ongoing but has not confirmed a deal, it rejected the 60-day plan, and Ukraine reported new strikes on energy sites in Kharkiv overnight.
What we don't: Whether Russia agreed to any truce, what it would cover, and who would check that both sides keep it.
Where outlets agree The Kyiv Independent and Reuters both report that Peskov said talks on the truce go on and turned down the 60-day plan.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.