French President Emmanuel Macron has said Russia is yet to demonstrate compliance with a proposed energy ceasefire in Ukraine, following continued attacks on power infrastructure despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the two countries had agreed to stop targeting energy facilities.
Macron made the remarks on Monday, saying there was no evidence of an effective truce on the Russian side and stressing that progress would depend on both countries observing the arrangement.
“There is currently no factual reason to change our position. Russia is continuing to bomb both civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine,” Macron told reporters.
He said France supported efforts to establish an energy ceasefire and restart peace negotiations but would not yield to Russian pressure.
“We say ‘yes’ to seeking an energy ceasefire and resuming peace talks…. but ‘no’ to giving in to the Russian threat,” he said.
Macron’s comments followed attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure reported after Trump announced an immediate ceasefire covering energy targets on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes hit power facilities in Kyiv and Kharkiv, causing electricity outages in the capital and damage to infrastructure in the eastern city.
A drone reportedly struck a power plant in Kyiv, while another attack targeted the CHP-5 thermal power plant in Kharkiv.
Zelensky also described the scale of Russian drone activity, saying Ukrainian skies had been filled with Russian Shahed drones throughout the day.
The attacks have intensified uncertainty surrounding Trump’s announcement, which did not include publicly detailed terms or an implementation mechanism. Russia had not publicly confirmed its agreement to the proposed arrangement in reports available on Monday.
Trump’s announcement raises questions
Trump announced the purported agreement on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, declaring that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would take effect immediately.
“Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he wrote, without providing further details about the agreement.
The announcement surprised officials in Kyiv. Zelensky said he had not been informed beforehand and was seeking clarification from Washington.
However, he indicated that Ukraine was prepared to support an arrangement if Russia also agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s position is that any halt to attacks on Russian energy facilities must be matched by a halt to Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
The reported attacks have raised questions about whether a mutually accepted ceasefire exists or whether the US announcement represents a proposal awaiting confirmation and implementation.
Ukrainian officials continued to report attacks on energy facilities on Monday, including a strike on an energy site on the outskirts of Kharkiv.
France reiterates support for Ukraine
Macron’s remarks reflect France’s position that a ceasefire must be observed by both sides before it can provide a basis for further diplomatic progress.
The French president has continued to support Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022 and has repeatedly damaged electricity generation, heating and other critical infrastructure.
Energy facilities have remained a major target during the conflict, with attacks disrupting essential services and increasing pressure on communities, particularly as colder weather approaches.
A genuine halt to strikes on energy infrastructure could reduce disruption to electricity and heating supplies while creating an opening for further negotiations. However, the latest reports suggest that the proposed arrangement has yet to produce a clear cessation of attacks.
The immediate challenge for Washington and its European partners is to establish the terms of the proposed truce and secure commitments that both Moscow and Kyiv will follow.
For Macron, the central issue remains whether the ceasefire exists in practice, rather than simply in an announcement.
His comments underline the gap between Trump’s declaration of an immediate agreement and the continued reports of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Until both sides confirm the arrangement and demonstrate compliance, the prospects for an effective energy truce remain uncertain.
