Carney says Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’ could ‘de-escalate’ war in Ukraine

OTTAWA — Mark Carney thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for “his leadership toward securing an energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Sunday.

But on the same day, Carney also expressed to Ukraine’s leader that Trump’s new diesel supply agreement with Russia undermines Canada’s efforts to end the war in Europe.

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Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Sunday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” but did not immediately offer any details.

Carney expressed “strong support for this agreement,” according to a readout from the PMO that followed a conversation between the two leaders. And on his own social media account, Carney offered that Trump’s newly announced “energy ceasefire” could help wind down Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“The new energy ceasefire being brokered by President Trump between Russia and Ukraine has the potential to significantly de-escalate the war and protect thousands of citizens from hardship,” Carney said on his X account.

However, Carney was also sharply critical of Trump’s new diesel fuel supply arrangement with the Kremlin, announced on Friday, that’s aimed at securing millions of tonnes of Russian diesel fuel to the United States.

Following a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday morning, the PMO said Carney was clear that the fuel 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,” a PMO readout said.

Carney also underscored he remains willing to expand Canada’s Russia sanctions.

In recent days, Trump has said it’s “time for Ukraine to get a new president” and that his new fuel deal with Russia will relieve price pressures on Americans.

Trump has blamed Ukrainian drone strikes at Russian energy installations for global price increases, which comes as affordability ranks among American voters’ top concerns.

The president has been actively campaigning in battleground states ahead of the November midterm elections, which could remove Republican control over Congress.

Zelenskyy publicly voiced support for Trump’s “energy ceasefire” on Sunday, but also said he was still awaiting details from the White House.

Both Carney and Zelenskyy called on Russia to end its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and abide by the agreement.

Zelenskyy noted on social media that recent strikes on a Kyiv power plant and an energy facility in Kharkiv, which came after Trump’s ceasefire post.

“This past week alone, the Russians have carried out more than 200 strikes on our electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine, and another 17 strikes this week targeted gas and oil facilities,” Zelenskyy said.

U.S. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said on NBC’s political talk show Meet the Press on Sunday that the diesel supply deal could be illegal.

Congress passed a bill in 2022 to ban Russian energy imports.

“I do believe there’s a legitimate case for saying the president’s not following the law,” Tillis said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disputed this on Fox News and said the administration will move ahead “with all the legal authorities we have.”

Carney and Zelenskyy also talked on Sunday about increasing coordination with European Union allies to help Ukraine with its air defence needs.

Zelenskyy thanked Carney for his compassion for Ukrainians and said the prime minister is “very well informed” about his country’s defence requirements, “particularly anti-ballistic defense and preparations for winter.”

“It is very good that Canada has become actively involved in developing the FREYJA anti-ballistic system jointly with Europe,” Zelenskyy said in one of a series of posts Sunday about his discussions with world leaders.

FREYJA is a European project to build an alternative to the American Patriot missile anti-air system through the Ukrainian defence company Fire Point.

The Ukrainian leader also spoke Sunday with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen said in a social media post that Ukraine and its military funding needs will be at the centre of this week’s European Council meetings.

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