Kremlin Sidesteps Direct Answer on Trump’s Claimed Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire, Says Contacts Continue

The Kremlin declined to give a clear answer on whether Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an "energy ceasefire," as claimed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Reuters and AFP reported on October 12 that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked whether such a ceasefire had been agreed in the energy sector, said only that "contacts are continuing." He added that the Kremlin would provide details once it had something to announce. He did not disclose who those contacts involved or in what format they were taking place.

Peskov was more explicit in rejecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. Zelenskiy had suggested that if a 60-day truce were agreed, a presidential election could be held. "We do not want a ceasefire. We want long-term peace," Peskov said.

Trump said earlier on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy-sector ceasefire. That drew attention to whether the two sides would actually carry it out.

Zelenskiy, meanwhile, said on October 12 that Russia had attacked Ukrainian gas facilities overnight and warned that Ukraine would respond if Moscow refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Shin Yong-hyun, Hankyung.com reporter, yonghyun@hankyung.com