Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer as Trump Claims Ukraine-Russia Energy Strike Deal
As the doomsday clock ticks closer amid ongoing global tensions, US President Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt strikes on energy targets amid rising global fuel prices, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that he is "not sure" Russia wants to stop such attacks and is awaiting details from partners.
Trump Announces Alleged Energy Strike Agreement
US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that "Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy Targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise," linking the issue to worldwide diesel price rises caused by the Russia-Ukraine war rather than Iran. [1] The announcement came just a day after Trump directly blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for rising diesel prices, including in the US where the price soared to a record $6.23 per gallon ($1.65 per liter) over the weekend. [1] Trump has insisted that the Russia-Ukraine war and not the conflict with Iran was driving up fuel costs. [2]
Zelensky's Cautious Response
Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to de-escalate by halting strikes on Russian critical infrastructure if partners ensure Russia stops attacking Ukrainian electricity, energy facilities, and food movement, describing it as a potential first step toward peace. [1] Roughly an hour after Trump's post, Zelensky responded on Telegram that he was "not sure" of Russia's desire to adhere to any such agreement. [1] Zelensky highlighted "a strong proposal from the United States regarding a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure" and added that "if this can become the first de-escalatory step – stopping Russian strikes on our critical infrastructure, and ours in response – then Ukraine is ready to support de-escalation." [2] He noted that "so far no one has seen any genuine desire from Russia to move toward ending the war" but said Ukraine would make de-escalatory steps if American partners secure real Russian readiness. [2]
Lack of Confirmation from Kyiv and Moscow
A top Ukrainian energy official told the Kyiv Independent they had not heard of any such energy ceasefire, and neither Ukraine nor Russia has confirmed the deal. [1] Russia made no immediate comment on the announcement. [2] The top Ukrainian energy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed they had not heard of any such energy ceasefire. [1]
Recent Russian Drone Attacks Near Poland
Russian drone strikes near the Polish border, including one hitting a gas station and a passenger train 2 km from the border, demonstrate Putin's "desperation" according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. [1] Russian drone strikes "close to NATO territory" demonstrate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "desperation," NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte said on Sept. 14. [1] Russia launched drones overnight at western Ukraine on Sept. 13, striking a gas station near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing and a Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Polish border. [1] Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said Poland was treating the incident with the "utmost seriousness." [1] Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland wants to change the organization of traffic at the border crossing to speed it up and avoid large clusters. [1]
Russia's Use of Belarusian Networks for Drone Strikes
Russia is using Belarusian LTE networks and repeater stations to guide Shahed-type drones in mass attacks on western Ukraine, prompting prior ultimatums from Zelensky to Belarus. [1] Russia is likely using Belarusian Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, as well as a network of repeater stations on Belarusian territory, to help provide stable signals to Russian Shahed-type drones used in mass attacks on Ukraine, two Ukrainian officials said on Sept. 14. [1] The revelation came two days after Russia sent hundreds of the petrol-powered drones, hugging Ukraine's northern border, in a rare mass attack targeting regions in western Ukraine on Sept. 12. [1] Presidential Advisor Serhii "Flash" Beskretnov said the flight path of the drones used in the attack suggested the use of domestic mobile networks for the cross-border attacks. [1] State Border Guard Service Spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said the air strikes that targeted Rivne, Volyn, and Lviv oblasts were also actually carried out from the territory of Belarus. [1] The placement of such relay stations in Belarusian territory has been a cause of tension between Kyiv and Minsk, with President Zelensky in the summer issuing a formal ultimatum for the equipment to be taken down. [1]
Broader War Developments and Sanctions
Russian strikes on Ukraine's rail network are worsening each week, the CEO of the state Ukrainian Railways operator said. [2] Oleksandr Pertsovsky stated that "it's growing exponentially. Each month, each week is generally worse than the previous one." [2] European Union countries on Monday delayed a deadline for prolonging sanctions on Russia after France pushed for billionaire Alisher Usmanov to be removed from a blacklist. [2] An EU list of almost 3,000 individuals and entities was set to expire by Wednesday, but ambassadors from the 27 EU member states pushed back the deadline one week. [2] Usmanov, a former major shareholder in Arsenal football club, was placed on the EU sanctions list in 2022 over what Brussels said were his close ties to the Kremlin. [2]
What to watch next: Rail strikes continue to worsen with each week, while EU ambassadors have delayed the sanctions renewal deadline by one week amid the push involving Alisher Usmanov.
