Russia and Ukraine Keep Ignoring Donald Trump

Russia and Ukraine continued their military exchanges targeting each other's energy infrastructure on Monday, despite President Donald Trump's decree designating certain sites as off-limits. The strikes occurred a day before negotiators from the two nations were set to engage in fresh U.S.-mediated talks aimed at reaching a peace agreement, a goal that has eluded them for months.

A drone attack struck Russia's second-largest oil refinery near Saint Petersburg, causing a fire, while Ukraine's military hit a fuel plant linked to Russia's Iskander missile system near the city. Russia retaliated by targeting electrical substations in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions, as well as in the capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over 128 Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure had been recorded between November 2 and 8. The U.S. had declared an "energy ceasefire" on October 11, forgoing attacks on critical infrastructure, but neither side confirmed compliance. Ukraine resumed targeting Russian oil refineries on October 15, despite Trump's plea for them to cease due to rising fuel prices, which he linked to his support for Iran.

The upcoming Abu Dhabi talks, brokered by the U.S., aim to broker a peace deal, though territorial disputes and Ukraine's constitution prohibiting land cession to Russia pose significant hurdles.