Trump Energy Ceasefire Collapses as Russia Launches Record Drone Swarm on Ukraine
Dubai – The White House’s attempt to impose a unilateral energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has collapsed following a massive overnight aerial assault by Moscow and Kyiv’s decision to resume strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Vladimir Putin’s forces deployed a record number of drones to target critical facilities in central Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his government would restart attacks on Russian refineries despite explicit warnings from Donald Trump.
Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of striking an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, marking the first such attack since Trump abruptly declared an "energy ceasefire" on social media last week. The former US president claimed that Ukrainian strikes on fuel sites were driving up global diesel prices and demanded that Zelenskyy halt these operations immediately. However, neither side had agreed to the truce, which was announced unilaterally by Trump without prior consultation with Kyiv or Moscow.
Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that the restriction on attacking refineries was lifted, stating, "The block is out. We’re done." He had previously paused these strikes to signal readiness for peace negotiations but reversed course after facing intensified pressure from Washington. The US administration threatened to cut arms deliveries and restrict battlefield intelligence sharing if Kyiv did not comply with Trump’s demands. Consequently, Ukrainian soldiers reported losing access to Starshield programs controlled by the US military, hindering frontline drone missions, and noted a lack of advance warning regarding recent Russian missile strikes.
In response to the diplomatic rift, Zelenskyy criticized a gap in US intelligence sharing as "dangerous" and accused Russia of deliberately escalating attacks after receiving sanctions relief. He stated that more than 850 Shahed drones targeted Ukraine during a period when defensive capabilities were "artificially restricted." The regional governor of Kirovohrad, Andriy Raikovych, reported that over 360 Russian drones hit the central region, killing three people and injuring six. Officials said the enemy targeted critical infrastructure, transport enterprises, logistics facilities, and residential homes.
Ukrainian military officials claimed they used a Neptune cruise missile to strike an airfield in the Voronezh region, damaging four Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jets and destroying two others. Zelenskyy published satellite imagery showing the damaged base, asserting that the warplanes were loaded with bombs ready for new attacks. Meanwhile, Moscow claimed that debris from a drone shot down by anti-aircraft fire caused fires at the Ryazan refinery, which it said was hit by 69 drones and four Flamingo cruise missiles.
Tensions extended beyond the land border into the Black Sea, where Romanian President Nicușor Dan reported that two Russian drones violated airspace and struck chemical tankers in Romanian territorial waters near the Danube River mouth. The incident set the ships ablaze and left at least seven sailors missing. Dan described the situation as serious, condemning the attacks on commercial vessels and calling for an immediate end to hostilities close to Romanian and Bulgarian shores.
The feud between Zelenskyy and Trump has escalated significantly, with Trump suggesting Ukraine should "get a new president" and Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, publicly criticizing Zelenskyy’s leadership on social media. When asked by Piers Morgan if he felt betrayed, Zelenskyy affirmed that Ukraine was losing a strong partner. He emphasized the need for honest support from American partners to protect lives and guarantee security, insisting that the US should stand with efforts to end the war rather than with the aggressor.
This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
