Trump's Russia-Ukraine Energy Truce Collapses Within a Day as Strikes Continue

Trump announced Oct. 12 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a truce on striking each other's energy infrastructure, saying the two sides agreed "because I told them to." Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces hit at least six Ukrainian energy facilities within a day, wounding 33 people, and that it was "increasingly evident" Moscow would not comply; Russia's foreign minister rejected any pause. Trump, asked about the strikes, acknowledged "violations on both sides."

The truce came two days after Trump temporarily eased U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel to boost global fuel supply, a move lawmakers in both parties say may violate the sanctions law Trump signed and that critics tie to lowering U.S. fuel prices before the Nov. 3 midterms. Zelensky said the move reverses Western efforts to isolate Russia's economy; Kyiv and European allies said they were not consulted before the truce was announced.

No enforcement mechanism has been reported, and strikes have continued. The administration has not said how it will respond if breaches continue.