# Zelenskyy offers ceasefire deal as Trump demands Ukraine halt refinery strikes

> Ukrainian president defends attacks on Russian oil infrastructure and proposes elections if Putin agrees to 60-day pause, after Trump claims both sides accepted energy ceasefire.
- Title: Zelenskyy offers ceasefire deal as Trump demands Ukraine halt…
- Summary: Ukrainian president defends attacks on Russian oil infrastructure and proposes elections if Putin agrees to 60-day pause, after Trump claims both sides…
- Keywords: volodymyr zelenskyy, donald trump, ukraine, russia, energy infrastructure, ceasefire, oil refineries, war in ukraine, news, Zelenskyy, offers, deal
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/Politics/president-zelenskyy-defends-attacks-russian-oil-refineries-ukrainians/story?id=137171763
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: volodymyr zelenskyy, donald trump, ukraine, russia, energy infrastructure, ceasefire, oil refineries, war in ukraine, news
## Trump demands Ukraine stop refinery strikes
President Donald Trump demanded Ukraine stop striking Russian oil refineries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the attacks in an exclusive ABC News interview, saying Ukraine is responding to repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
## Zelenskyy proposes energy ceasefire deal
Zelenskyy told ABC News co-anchor Jonathan Karl that Ukraine wants peace and is ready for a ceasefire. He said if Russia stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine will stop attacking Russian diesel and refineries.

> Don't attack us. Don't kill our children. We will stop attack[ing] your diesel. And I think it's [a] fair, fair deal.
## Trump announces energy ceasefire without warning
After Zelenskyy's ABC News interview aired, Trump posted on social media that Ukraine and Russia had both agreed to an energy ceasefire.

> Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!
## Trump blames Zelenskyy for prolonging war
On Saturday, Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy to reporters, claiming the Ukrainian president chooses not to end the war with Russia, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February of two thousand twenty-two.
## Trump criticizes refinery strikes as global problem
Trump said Ukraine's repeated strikes on Russian oil refineries are exacerbating the price of diesel and causing a world problem.He told Zelenskyy he can attack Russia but cannot hit refineries because of global energy concerns.

> We said you could do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries, because that's a world problem that's caused.
## Ukraine fears loss of U.S. intelligence sharing
A senior Ukrainian source told ABC News that Ukraine expects the Trump administration to stop sharing U.S. intelligence that tracks Russian missile launches in retaliation over Kyiv's refusal to end strikes on Russia's oil industry.
## Trump announces U.S. diesel deal with Russia
Trump announced the U.S.had made a deal with Russia to immediately import three hundred thousand tons of its diesel fuel, with a promise that millions more are coming.Zelenskyy called this deal an obvious weakness.
## Trump calls for Zelenskyy to be replaced
Less than twenty-four hours after Zelenskyy criticized the diesel deal, Trump called for Ukraine to get a new leader.

> I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president.
## Zelenskyy proposes elections after sixty-day ceasefire
Responding to Trump's call for his replacement, Zelenskyy said it is up to Ukraine's people to choose their leader.

> please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections.
## Zelenskyy says war must end as conflict nears five years
Asked how long Ukraine can continue defending itself as the war approaches five years, Zelenskyy said the war has to end.

> We will defend ourselves because otherwise, we will lose our life and homes, our freedom, independence, Ukraine.
## Key takeaway

President Zelenskyy defended Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries as retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and offered to hold elections if Russia agrees to a sixty day ceasefire.