Trump expects Zelensky to halt strikes on oil refineries — Axios

The energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump calls for Ukraine and Russia to mutually halt strikes on oil refineries.

This was reported by Axios, citing a White House official.

According to the White House official, Trump expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to comply with this condition. Only after strikes on oil refineries cease will the two sides be able to begin negotiating a ceasefire covering power plants and electrical grids.

Ukraine, however, has only one major oil refinery — the Kremenchuk refinery — which has been out of operation in recent years following Russian strikes.

The White House is warning that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries are damaging Zelensky’s relationship with Trump more than they are harming Russia itself.

“Trump is really very angry. He believes that Zelensky takes U.S. assistance for granted,” the White House official said.

Meanwhile, Witkoff and Kushner have postponed a planned trip to Moscow until Ukraine’s and Europe’s positions on the new peace proposal become clearer.

Trump announced the energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia on the same day. Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has yet confirmed its agreement to halt the strikes.