Berlins Today
Impossible to have elections in Ukraine without a ceasefire, says Zelensky published at 09:59 BST Image source, Reuters Shortly after his speech, President Volodymyr Zelensky was asked about calls for elections in Ukraine. Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump said "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president" as he responded to Zelensky's criticism of the US diesel deal with Russia. Zelensky says that from a security standpoint, holding elections is "completely impossible" as there are attacks "day and night".
"A ceasefire is needed, a full ceasefire", Zelensky stresses, saying that if there is a truce in fighting then he is willing to engage with Ukraine's parliament and find "difficult solutions" to reach elections "very quickly". As well as security concerns - due to the ongoing fighting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - the Ukrainian president notes that a significant proportion of the electorate would be excluded from voting if elections took place now. He adds that "more than a million people" must vote, but "how will they vote while being on the frontline?" Why is Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Vladimir Putin so crucial? published at 09:47 BST Steve Rosenberg Russia editor On 9 October, Donald Trump announced a plan to import Russian diesel into the US, temporarily undoing US sanctions on energy imports.
It's been condemned by Ukraine's Zelensky - who called it a "gift" to Putin. It’s not about the volumes. It’s about the war - and what happens next.
This morning’s Russian newspapers understand that and they are upbeat. "The agreement and Trump’s subsequent statements can be an important signal," writes the government paper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, "that Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure may now be viewed by the Trump administration as attacks on the deal." In other words, the Russians believe they’ve found a way to halt Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities – and also increase US pressure on Kyiv. Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Trump and Putin pictured at a US-Russia summit on Ukraine in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025 Tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets is hoping that the agreement on diesel will lead to a reduction of US support for Ukraine.
"The plan that [Russia] will supply three million tons [of diesel] a month is only possible once the strikes on Russan oil refineries stop," writes the paper. "The key question: is the US ready to restrict the Ukrainian military’s access to satellite intel? After all, this is what often ensures that these attacks are successful." As for Donald Trump’s comment that "it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president", no surprises in the Russian papers: Moscow shares the American president’s point of view.
Ceasefire could be major step towards ending war if US steps in now - Zelensky published at 09:33 BST Image source, Reuters Zelensky says last night Russian oil refineries "were not burning", yet at midnight, Russia struck a gas production facility in Ukraine and there was also a strike on an ordinary gas station involving "several drones". "This is Putin's answer to Trump: Russian attacks," he says. Ukraine is waiting for more details of the conversation between the Americans and the Russians, Zelensky adds, referring to Trump's diesel deal he announced last week.
"This energy ceasefire can work and it can become a major step toward ending the war, if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russians respect the energy ceasefire," he says, adding that he is "grateful" to America. We are ready to respect an energy ceasefire if Russia does the same - Zelensky published at 09:24 BST "This winter, if Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire, we will respond," Zelensky continues. He says Ukraine "immediately" supported Trump's ceasefire announcement, adding that the "American team knows very well what this means for us." Zelensky says that if Moscow wants Kyiv to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, then it too should stop hitting Ukraine's key infrastructure.
"If Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes against its oil refineries and oil exports, then Russia must stop its strikes against our energy system and critical infrastructure, and stop killing our people. This is only fair." "We are ready to respect an energy ceasefire if Russia is ready to do the same. We agree, if they agree", he adds.
Zelensky: Russia struck Kharkiv power plant 'immediately after' Trump's ceasefire post published at 09:17 BST Breaking Image source, Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky starts by saying that yesterday they were all surprised by the sudden post from US President Donald Trump who said he had secured an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. At that very moment, Zelensky says, Russian jet powered drones were flying in Ukraine's skies and large parts of Kyiv had no water supplies and electricity. Zelensky notes that "immediately after the post, Russia launched a targeted strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to our energy system".
"It was clear that Putin does not read Truth Social," Zelensky adds. Zelensky speaking at Warsaw Security Forum - watch live published at 09:07 BST Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland. The Ukrainian leader has joined, via video link, a number of senior politicians at the conference, including Poland's prime minister Donald Tusk and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
You can watch live at the top of this page - we'll also bring you any key lines here. Foreign Office minister won't say if UK knew about energy ceasefire in advance published at 09:01 BST A Foreign Office minister has declined to say whether the UK knew about the proposed energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine before it was announced by Donald Trump. Asked whether the UK had been aware of the impending announcement, Stephen Doughty tells Sky News: “There are a whole range of developments that happen on a daily basis on the situation in Ukraine, and we work very, very closely with the United States and with Ukraine on these matters.
“But as I said, the facts on the ground are that Russia is continuing to attack Ukraine overnight, and that is what matters." “Ukraine needs to be safe. It needs to have its energy infrastructure secure, and we’ll continue to stand with them," he adds. Image source, Reuters Image caption, The scene of an overnight drone strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine EU will welcome energy ceasefire 'when it holds' - foreign policy chief published at 08:45 BST Image source, EPA The European Union will welcome the announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine "when it holds", the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says.
"We haven't yet seen that also Russia will stick to it," Kallas tells a meeting of EU foreign ministers. The bloc's high representative for foreign affairs renewed the call for the US to impose sanctions on Russia. "We would call the US to get the sanctions in place so that we could actually finish the war," she says.
Five injured in overnight drone strike in Kharkiv, says local mayor published at 08:29 BST Image source, Reuters The mayor of Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, says drones struck a high rise building in the city overnight, injuring at least five people. Floors seven through to nine of the building were destroyed in the attack, Igor Terekhov says, adding that there is a fire at the scene and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Trump wants to will energy ceasefire into existence but early signs are not promising published at 08:16 BST Dan Johnson Ukraine correspondent, reporting from Kyiv Image source, Getty Images Ukrainians were already feeling the impact of power cuts and were bracing for a difficult winter.
They’ll be hoping this partial ceasefire can ease that situation but there were further Russian attacks on energy facilities in the hours after Donald Trump’s announcement. He appears to have declared a deal prematurely, perhaps hoping to will it into existence. In the best scenario, he may achieve that.
If it doesn’t work, he’s likely to be embarrassed and looking for someone to blame - Ukrainians fear it will be presented as their fault. There’s been no comment from the Kremlin and no detail from the White House. Russia’s attacks on two power stations in the early hours of this ceasefire mean the signs are not too promising.
Russia has also hit other targets, though it was a reasonably quiet night. In any case, the energy ceasefire would not mean an end to the war. Energy infrastructure targeted in north-west Ukraine, local official says published at 08:01 BST Energy and railway infrastructure in the region of Zhytomyr in western Ukraine has been targeted in overnight Russian attacks, according to the head of the region's military administration.
Fires broke out following repeated shelling of the north of the region overnight, says Vitaliy Bunechko, adding that they have now been extinguished. He reports that railway and energy infrastructure in the Korostyshiv district were targeted. No casualties or injuries have been reported so far, he adds.
Russia yet to comment on energy ceasefire announcement published at 07:34 BST There has been no comment from Russia after US President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia on Sunday. Russian authorities have given details of several Ukrainian attacks on Sunday, including strikes on Belgorod and Donetsk - the Ukrainian region largely under Russian control. And Moscow's mayor said the military had intercepted more than 20 drones heading towards the city.
But on the energy ceasefire itself, the Kremlin has said nothing. Ukraine will stop striking energy infrastructure if Russia does the same, says Zelensky published at 07:24 BST Image source, Reuters "Ukraine is ready to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure - and we count on the same readiness from Russia," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenksy said in a statement on Telegram last night. In a separate post on X on Sunday evening, he said Trump's statement about an energy ceasefire was "good news for everyone – and it is important that it become reality".
Ukrainian skies "have been infested with Russian 'shaheds' all day today," he said, referring to Iranian-made drones. He added that there had been glide bomb strikes and strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and that a power plant in Kharkiv was attacked on Sunday evening. Over the past week Russia has carried out more than 200 strikes on Ukraine's electricity facilities, and 17 strikes targeting gas and oil facilities, he said, with 150 people killed.
"We are awaiting clear details of the dialogue between America and Russia – and we expect Putin to follow through on what President Trump said," he added. Power outages after strike on residential area in Izyum - Ukrainian state media published at 07:09 BST Ukrainian state media is reporting blackouts in the city of Izyum following an overnight Russian strike that affected energy infrastructure. Ukrinform says a residential area in the north of the city, which is south-east of Kharkiv, was hit by a missile overnight.
One person was injured, while 15 houses and an apartment building were damaged. Power lines were damaged in the attack, causing power outages for residents of several streets and disruption to internet connectivity, it says. Blackouts reported in Ukraine despite 'energy ceasefire' published at 07:04 BST Blackouts have been reported in Ukraine overnight after Russian strikes in the east of the country, despite Donald Trump's claim that the two countries had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
Residents in several streets in Izyum, eastern Ukraine, were left without power after a Russian strike damaged power grids, according to Ukrinform, Ukraine's national state news agency. It follows an announcement from the US president on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an "energy ceasefire". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially expressed surprise at the announcement, before saying Kyiv would support it if Moscow did.
Russia is yet to comment. Last night, Zelensky also accused Russia of striking Ukrainian energy facilities after Trump's announcement. We'll bring you all the latest developments on this story here.
Zelensky welcomes Trump's 'energy ceasefire' claim but accuses Russia of more strikes published at 22:46 BST 11 October Katie Williams Live reporter Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Emergency workers at the site of a shop destroyed by a Russian strike in Kharkiv, where three people died Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of striking energy facilities within hours of Donald Trump claiming an "energy ceasefire" had been brokered between the two countries. In a surprise social media post, Trump announced the deal and said that "both parties" had agreed to it, warning: "Do not break it!" Zelensky subsequently said the deal was "news for me" - but added he would agree to it if Russia did. Moscow is yet to comment.
Our North America correspondent writes that it's a familiar move from Trump, announcing a deal before it's clear it has been finalised, with previous ceasefire efforts having proved elusive. It also comes days after Trump announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the US, as global conflicts push fuel prices higher ahead of the midterm elections. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia have continued to exchange strikes.
Ukrainian officials said three were killed after a Russian missile hit a Kharkiv grocery store . Three military personnel were also reported dead after a drone strike in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Russian media reported Ukrainian strikes killed one person in Donetsk today, while the mayor of Moscow said Russia intercepted more than 20 drones heading for the city.
We are now ending our live coverage - you can read more in our news story . As Russian strikes on Kyiv continue, some residents prepare to leave published at 22:18 BST 11 October Paul Adams Diplomatic correspondent, in Kyiv Media caption, Watch: Olena explains what she cannot live near in order to stay safe Russia's escalating strikes on Kyiv, combined with the city's harsh winters, are forcing some residents to flee the city. "It was a very difficult winter last year in Kyiv," said resident Mariia Shostak.
The mother of two told the BBC in recent days she was packing her bags and taking her children abroad to Egypt. With prolonged periods of sub-zero temperatures and frequent power cuts brought about by Russia's attack on the country's power grid, last winter was one of the hardest so far. "There were some days and weeks that were unbearable.
I started thinking I'm not going through another winter like this," she says. For other Kyiv residents, the solution lies closer to home: in the vast open spaces of Ukraine's countryside. Olena Konoplia tells us she spent weeks looking for a suitable location before settling on a cottage in a rural community two hours outside the capital.
"I decided the better option will be a little village without any factories, any [warehouses] and any railway stations," Olena explains. "Everything that can be a Russian target." Zelensky says CHPP-5 power plant was struck in Kharkiv published at 22:12 BST 11 October Volodymyr Zelensky earlier accused Russia of striking Ukrainian energy facilities after Donald Trump claimed an "energy ceasefire" had been agreed . In an address shared on Telegram, he says that included the CHPP-5 power plant that was struck in Kharkiv.
"In total, over this week alone, the Russians have launched more than 200 strikes on our electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine," he says. Russia reports casualties from Ukrainian strikes in Belgorod and Donetsk published at 21:56 BST 11 October The government in Russia's Belgorod region says Ukrainian drones have killed one person and injured three. In a Telegram post a short while ago, it says one man died at the scene after a drone hit a car yesterday afternoon.
The authority says two teenagers were also injured in a separate drone attack and received treatment in hospital, and that another strike left a woman with shrapnel wounds to the legs and arms. Russia's TASS news agency reports that in Donetsk - a Ukrainian region largely under Russian control - Ukrainian drones have killed one person and injured two others on Sunday. US-Russia diesel deal 'in direct opposition' to Ukraine peace efforts, Carney says published at 21:44 BST 11 October Image source, Reuters Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he'd spoken about the proposed truce with other world leaders, including Canada's Mark Carney.
Carney's office has now given details about what was said between the two men, which included a discussion of Trump's announcement of a deal to import Russian diesel into the US. "The Prime Minister was clear: this agreement is in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada, and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe," a statement from Carney's office says. It adds that Carney assured Zelensky that Canada will maintain and possibly tighten sanctions "to support efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine" and that the two men also spoke about building support among their allies for Ukraine’s air defence.
Source: BBC
