Carney backs Trump's Ukraine energy ceasefire but condemns U.S. diesel deal with Russia

OTTAWA · Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed support for a U.S.-brokered energy ceasefire in Ukraine on Sunday while sharply criticizing a separate American deal to buy diesel from Russia. Carney thanked President Donald Trump for his leadership toward securing the ceasefire, which Trump announced on social media without providing details. In a readout from his office, Carney said he offered strong support for the agreement in a conversation with Trump. The prime minister also said on his own social media account that the ceasefire could significantly de-escalate the war and protect citizens from hardship.

Later on Sunday, Carney told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Trump's new diesel fuel supply arrangement with the Kremlin undermines efforts to end the war. The Prime Minister's Office said Carney was clear the fuel deal is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada and their allies to create peace in Europe. It said the agreement will provide additional revenue for Russia and help finance its illegal war against Ukraine. Carney also showed he remains willing to expand Canada's sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy said he welcomed Trump's ceasefire announcement but was still awaiting details from the White House. He noted Russian strikes on a Kyiv power plant and a Kharkiv energy facility occurred after Trump's post. Zelenskyy said Russians carried out more than 200 strikes on Ukrainian electricity generation and transmission facilities in the past week alone, with another 17 targeting gas and oil facilities. On Monday, he accused Russia of violating the energy ceasefire, saying six energy facilities were attacked and 33 people wounded.

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Zelenskyy told a security conference in Warsaw via video link that Ukraine is waiting for the specific conditions of the deal and for the Americans to ensure Russia respects it. He said he learned about the ceasefire from the media. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said contacts were ongoing about the possible ceasefire but declined to comment on whether it would apply only to oil refineries. Peskov also rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Zelenskyy to allow Ukraine to hold presidential elections, saying Russia wants long-term peace instead.

U.S. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the diesel supply deal could be illegal, citing a 2022 law banning 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, saying the administration will move ahead with all the legal authorities it has. Trump has said his fuel deal will relieve price pressures on Americans and has blamed Ukrainian drone strikes for global price increases as he campaigns ahead of November's midterm elections.

In their conversation, Carney and Zelenskyy discussed increasing coordination with European Union allies to help Ukraine with its air defence needs. Zelenskyy thanked Carney for his compassion and said the prime minister is very well informed about Ukraine's defence requirements, particularly anti-ballistic defence and winter preparations. He said it is very good that Canada is involved in developing the FREYJA anti-ballistic system jointly with Europe. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she welcomed a pause in energy strikes but had seen no sign Russia would stick to it.

Several EU foreign ministers said the U.S. diesel deal is unlikely to bring energy prices down and appears aimed at helping Republicans win the midterms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine's military funding needs will be at the centre of this week's European Council meetings. Ukraine's air force said it shot down or suppressed 89 of 121 Russian drones overnight Monday. Russia's defence ministry said its air defences intercepted 151 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea.

With files from The Canadian Press, CityNews and CBC News