Zelenskyy addressed the Warsaw Security Forum in one of his first reactions to renewed turmoil with Washington, following Trump's surprise energy ceasefire announcement and controversial diesel deal with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Monday of violating an energy ceasefire announced by Donald Trump, saying Kyiv had not even been consulted about the purported agreement and had only learned of it through the media.
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"We did not know about that. We've learned that from the media as well, that the president of the United States has secured an energy ceasefire," Zelenskyy said.
Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Zelenskyy questioned whether Moscow had agreed to the proposal at all, saying he had seen neither a public endorsement from Russia nor any let-up in its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
"We have not seen that they support this ceasefire anywhere," he said, pointing to continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Large parts of Kyiv were without electricity and water when Trump made his announcement, as repair crews struggled to restore power following Russian strikes. Shortly afterwards, Russia launched another targeted attack on a power plant in Kharkiv, Zelenskyy said.
"It was clear that Putin does not read Truth Social," he remarked, referring to Trump's social media platform.
Zelenskyy also accused Russia of striking a Ukrainian gas production facility and a petrol station overnight, while Ukraine had refrained from attacking Russian oil refineries.
Despite the continued attacks, he said Kyiv remained willing to observe a reciprocal halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.
"We are ready to respect an energy ceasefire if Russia is ready to do the same. We agree if they agree," he said.
Zelenskyy offered to sign formal guarantees if Washington considered them necessary, but stressed that the US would have to secure Moscow's compliance.
Trump-Putin diesel deal sparks backlash
Zelenskyy's remarks followed several days of mounting tensions with Washington, beginning on Friday when Trump announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to US and global markets, in an attempt to bring down soaring fuel prices ahead of November's US midterm elections.
The US Treasury subsequently issued a six-month licence easing sanctions on Russian diesel already loaded onto tankers, allowing deliveries until April 2027 — a sharp reversal of Washington's efforts to restrict Moscow's energy revenues.
The move drew criticism from European leaders and US lawmakers, including a bipartisan group of senators who urged Trump to reverse course, warning that the deal could provide Moscow with fresh revenues to finance its war against Ukraine.
Trump, meanwhile, blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for rising fuel prices and demanded that Zelenskyy halt them. On Saturday, he went further, suggesting Ukraine needed a new president and accusing its wartime leader of obstructing efforts to end the war.
On Sunday, Trump announced on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire, although neither side had publicly confirmed an agreement.
It was not the first such declaration. A similar announcement in September failed to halt the strikes.
Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy used his Warsaw address to make a pointed appeal for Washington to change course.
"We need American pressure on Russia, not sanctions relief, not concessions, but real pressure," he said.
He argued that Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries and exports were a response to Moscow's sustained campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and that both sides would have to halt such attacks for a ceasefire to work.
Zelenskyy offers elections if Trump secures 60-day ceasefire
Responding to Trump's renewed pressure to hold presidential elections, Zelenskyy said voting remained impossible under current security conditions, with Russian attacks now taking place around the clock.
"From a security standpoint, that's completely impossible. We have attacks day and night," he said.
He also pointed to the logistical challenges of organising a vote for more than a million Ukrainian military personnel, including those serving on the front line.
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy signalled that he was prepared to seek changes to Ukraine's legal framework if Washington could secure a comprehensive ceasefire with Moscow.
"If there is a ceasefire and if the Americans reach such an agreement with the Russians, I'm ready to engage with our Parliament and find difficult solutions," he said.
He suggested this could involve changes to legislation and even the constitution, although constitutional amendments are prohibited under martial law.
Zelenskyy then turned Trump's own diplomatic engagement with Moscow into a challenge to the US president, arguing that Washington should be able to use its influence over Putin to secure a complete halt to hostilities.
"And if we have at least a 60 day full ceasefire, then I'll be ready to work on holding elections," he said.
Zelenskyy warns of Russian hybrid attacks
Beyond the dispute with Washington, Zelenskyy warned that Ukrainian intelligence had uncovered further Russian plans to destabilise European countries.
"Our intelligence services know that Russia is planning many, many aggressive hybrid operations against Europe, against different countries, against your countries," he told the forum.
"There is no such thing as a small act of destabilisation," he added, urging European governments to remain vigilant and united.
Zelenskyy also appealed for continued military assistance, including ammunition for Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets, air-defence interceptors and funding for domestic weapons and drone production.
He called for closer defence-industrial cooperation with Poland, arguing that joint production and technological partnerships could strengthen both countries' security.
The Ukrainian president also urged European leaders to prevent further delays in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations, saying progress was essential not only politically but also for the morale of Ukrainians living through another winter of war.
"Please do not allow any pauses in Ukraine's European integration," he said.
Zelenskyy said Kyiv expected to open two negotiating clusters and wanted another two opened by the end of the year.
"Our people need to feel that despite all the difficulties, Ukraine's European future is close," he said.
He concluded by urging European leaders to ensure Washington understood that an energy ceasefire, de-escalation and credible security guarantees were urgently needed in practice, rather than simply being announced on social media.
"In reality, not just on Truth Social," he said.