Carney Says Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire Could ‘Significantly De-escalate’ War

An energy ceasefire being brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Russia and Ukraine could significantly de-escalate the war and protect thousands of civilians, Prime Minister Mark Carney said a few hours after announcement of the deal.

“Canada calls on Russia to uphold this agreement as we keep working with our Allies to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe,” Carney wrote on social media in the late afternoon on Oct. 11, saying that the new ceasefire “has the potential to significantly de-escalate the war and protect thousands of civilians from harm and hardship.”

Carney said he had spoken with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the morning in separate discussions that centred on energy and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.

Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, in the morning on Oct. 11.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he wrote.

Zelenskyy took to social media to thank Carney and acknowledged the ceasefire announced by Trump. However, he said he would need a response on the matter from Russia regarding “what Russia will say to the American President and whether it will stop striking our energy infrastructure.”

In a post a few minutes later, Zelenskyy wrote that Russia had continued to attack Ukraine throughout the day.

“Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian ‘shaheds’ all day today. There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening,” he wrote.

Zelenskyy added that Russia had carried out more than 200 strikes on Ukraine’s electricity generation and transmission facilities in the past week, and had also targeted gas and oil facilities.

Moscow hasn’t yet confirmed or commented on the agreement.

Carney’s comments in support of the ceasefire were made just hours after the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement in which he spoke critically of a U.S.-Russia agreement for Russia to supply millions of tonnes of diesel to the United States.

“This agreement is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada, and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe. It will provide additional revenue for Russia and help finance its illegal, unjustifiable war against Ukraine,” Carney wrote.

“Canada has imposed over 3,500 sanctions in response to Russia’s violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

In a follow-up statement from the PMO made later the same day on Oct. 11, Carney said Canada would “continue to maximise our exports of oil and diesel to the United States that yield well over a million barrels of diesel per day.”

The deal was also criticized by Zelenskyy, who said, “Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world.”

Trump said that the deal is meant to decrease diesel prices, and added that Ukraine needs a new president, charging that Zelenskyy has had the opportunity to settle the ongoing war “many times” but has chosen not to.