An energy ceasefire that the White House had sought to broker between Russia and Ukraine has collapsed, with both sides returning to strikes on each other's energy infrastructure despite warnings from President Donald Trump.
Moscow sent what officials described as a record swarm of drones overnight to attack infrastructure in central Ukraine, while Kyiv appeared to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. Russia accused Ukraine of hitting a refinery in the Ryazan region — the first such attack since Trump abruptly declared an «energy ceasefire» that neither Russia nor Ukraine had said they had agreed to.
The collapse of the unilateral American effort marks a setback for Washington's attempt to carve out a narrow truce covering energy targets, even as wider fighting continues. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv had publicly committed to the arrangement, and the renewed strikes suggest both sides remain willing to target infrastructure that fuels the other's war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would restart strikes on Russian oil refineries, signalling that Ukraine intends to keep pressure on a sector that provides significant revenue for Moscow's military operations. The Ryazan refinery strike, if confirmed, would be the first Ukrainian attack of its kind since the ceasefire was declared.
The overnight drone assault on central Ukraine was described as a record swarm, underscoring the scale of Russia's continued aerial campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure. Such attacks have repeatedly damaged power generation and other critical facilities, forcing authorities to impose emergency measures and leaving civilians without reliable electricity and heating.
Trump's declaration of an energy ceasefire had raised expectations of a limited de-escalation, but the absence of formal agreement from either capital left the arrangement fragile from the outset. The renewed hostilities indicate that no durable understanding was reached, and that both sides continue to treat energy infrastructure as a legitimate target.
The development is being closely watched across the Caribbean and the wider world, where the war's effects on energy markets, food prices and shipping have been felt far beyond Europe. For small island states, including the Commonwealth of Dominica, fluctuations in global fuel costs and supply chains remain a direct concern, as imported energy and goods underpin much of daily life and economic activity.
The collapse of the energy truce also raises questions about the prospects for broader diplomatic efforts to end the war. Previous attempts at limited ceasefires have faltered, and the latest exchange suggests that neither side sees an immediate advantage in holding back from strikes on infrastructure.
There was no immediate indication of further talks aimed at reviving the energy ceasefire. The White House has not said whether it will pursue a new diplomatic push, and both Moscow and Kyiv have given no sign of changing their military posture.
For now, the record drone attack and the reported refinery strike point to an intensifying campaign on both sides, with energy infrastructure once again at the centre of the conflict.
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