Putin yet to confirm energy ceasefire as Kremlin says talks continue

The Kremlin says talks are ongoing about the possible energy ceasefire with Ukraine; however, Kyiv says one of its power plants was hit “immediately after” United States President Donald Trump’s Sunday announcement in which he said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire.

The Northern Bridge across the Dnipro river in Kyiv was hit during a Russian air attack on Saturday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, amid an escalation in strikes on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital. https://t.co/QNdI5ttogG https://t.co/XqEmOUIOAY — SABC News (@SABCNews) October 3, 2026 Moscow has not confirmed the energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, saying only that contacts on a possible deal are continuing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say whether Russia is negotiating with Washington, Kyiv, or both, adding that Moscow would provide information when there is something to announce.

Peskov says Russian President Vladimir Putin would be prepared to order Russian forces not to strike Ukraine on election day, if Kyiv genuinely intends to hold elections.

But Moscow rejects Zelensky’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to allow for voting to take place, arguing that Ukraine would use the pause to regroup militarily.

Peskov also accused Ukraine of carrying out unprecedentedly large-scale attacks on Moscow during Russia’s parliamentary elections, allegations that Kyiv has dismissed.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia has nothing to justify to anyone, insisting Moscow’s war aims have not changed, unlike what he called the “zigzags” of Zelensky and his European allies.