A day after President Trump posted that “effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE” between Russia and Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm any such agreement. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, responded to a question about it by pointing to Zelensky’s own admission that he had not heard about it.

“Ceasefire,” Lavrov said, has for many months replaced “strategic defeat of Russia” as the slogan of Zelensky and his Western “masters,” with one aim, to win time to rearm: “I don’t think he has earned a breather. I don’t think we will once again be taken in by assurances and promises.” Lavrov cited President Vladimir Putin’s recent reiteration that Russia continues to pursue its goals in the Special Military Operation. These, said the foreign minister, “are well known to everyone. We have never changed them, unlike the zigzags and forkings of V. Zelensky and his European ‘masters.’”

Peskov, in his briefing today, was asked about both Trump’s initial post and the White House clarification via Axios, that the “deal” concerned only oil refineries. He replied only that “contacts continue, and we will inform you when we have something to say.”

Yesterday, Russian State Duma energy committee Deputy Chairman Igor Ananskikh said the “energy ceasefire” claim may simply be words coming from Trump’s mouth: “We all know that Trump often says things to keep oil prices from rising.”