Trump Claims Russia and Ukraine Agree to Halt Energy Strikes; Zelensky and Kremlin Voice Skepticism

President Trump posted on Truth Social on September 14 that "Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy Targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise!" — a day after telling Zelensky to stop striking Russian diesel infrastructure amid rising global fuel prices. Zelensky said he was "not sure" Russia would honor such a deal, offering conditional openness: Ukraine would halt strikes on Russian energy only "if the partners are ready to ensure Russia's real desire not to strike our electricity." An unnamed senior Ukrainian energy official told the Kyiv Independent they had received no notification of any energy ceasefire agreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv was not offering a "permanent settlement" aligned with Russian interests and was merely seeking a truce in Ukraine's "Achilles' heel," while separately describing Russian oil refineries as peaceful infrastructure. Zelensky said he plans to discuss an energy and Black Sea ceasefire with Trump at a possible meeting in New York September 21-23.