{
  "id": 14093640,
  "title": "Merz Calls on Russia to Accept Energy Ceasefire Following Talks With Zelensky",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/merz-calls-on-russia-to-accept-energy-ceasefire-following-talks-with",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T01:40:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Post",
    "slug": "kyiv-post",
    "url": "https://www.kyivpost.com/post/86863"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Russia to agree to an energy ceasefire following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, Oct. 12, as Russia continued bombarding Ukraine's civilian and energy targets. Merz emphasized the necessity of Russia accepting the ceasefire for energy infrastructure, a crucial step towards lasting peace in Ukraine. The German government's official statement stated that both leaders agreed it was now up to Russia to accept a ceasefire covering all energy infrastructure. The discussion followed US President Donald Trump's claim on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had reached an energy ceasefire, a statement that neither Kyiv nor Moscow validated. Despite the announcement, Russian forces persisted in targeting Ukrainian energy installations, leading Zelensky to doubt Moscow's commitment to the agreement, as noted by the Ukrainian presidency. Earlier that day, Zelensky reported that Russian forces had targeted six Ukrainian energy facilities on a single day, including a gas-production plant and other critical infrastructure, despite the US's declaration. Ukraine has repeatedly proposed suspending long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and export facilities if Moscow halts its attacks on Ukraine's electricity grid and essential infrastructure. At the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, Zelensky called for intensified European and US pressure on Russia to achieve a genuine ceasefire, warning that reducing pressure on Moscow would only prompt further escalation. The leaders also discussed diplomatic initiatives for a lasting peace and agreed to maintain close cooperation with European and transatlantic partners. Merz indicated that Germany was working to arrange another meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which coordinates support and potential post-war security assurances for Ukraine. Furthermore, Merz and Zelensky agreed to convene a meeting of national security advisers under the E3-Ukraine format, involving Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, to discuss Ukraine's financial resilience amid ongoing Russian assaults that threaten electricity and heating supplies before winter.",
  "summary": "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Russia to agree to an energy ceasefire following a phone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, Oct. 12. The leaders discussed renewed Russian attacks on civilian and energy facilities despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy truce.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}