Germany is preparing a new meeting of the Coalition of the Willing to coordinate further support for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 12 October following a conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that Moscow has agreed to an energy truce. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is initiating a meeting of European leaders to discuss assistance to Ukraine in this situation.

Kyiv and Berlin have also agreed to hold a meeting of national security advisers in the E3 format, with Ukraine participating, according to the statement. The format involves an informal grouping of three leading European countries: the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Zelenskyy and Merz discuss energy truce and support for Ukraine

During the conversation, the two sides also discussed US President Donald Trump’s proposal for an energy truce and Russia’s subsequent actions. Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy noted.

“This is exactly how the Russians behave when pressure eases. It is very important that Europe continue to act on principle,” Zelenskyy stressed.

Germany is coordinating preparations for a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, the Ukrainian president noted. The two sides also discussed support for Ukraine’s financial stability. Further steps are to be coordinated in greater detail during a meeting scheduled for this week, Zelenskyy said.

The Coalition of the Willing seeks additional support for Ukraine

The Coalition of the Willing was initiated by the United Kingdom and France, which held talks with representatives of 37 countries in March 2025 on supporting Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement. The initiative envisaged financial assistance and the deployment of troops, air forces or naval forces to protect Ukraine against renewed Russian aggression, Bloomberg reported.

The latest meeting of the Coalition of the Willing took place on 24 August and was the 16th meeting, according to a statement on the website of the President of Ukraine. Zelenskyy called on partners to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and provide at least 300 missiles for Patriot systems for the winter, the statement said.

The president also proposed bringing forward part of the European loan financing planned for 2027 so that Ukraine could receive the funds this year. He separately stressed the need to find a mechanism for using frozen Russian assets to defend Ukraine and to unblock the maritime corridor in the Black Sea.

“We value this format—the Coalition of the Willing. It brings together countries that are ready not only to talk about security but also to act. We need this—to act and build real security together,” Zelenskyy stressed.

A ceasefire in words, but fresh attacks on energy infrastructure in practice

Ukraine and Russia had allegedly agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire, US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on 11 October. However, at the time of publication, neither Kyiv nor Moscow had confirmed such an agreement, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Ukraine supports the ceasefire and is awaiting details from the US side, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X the same day. Russia must also agree to halt the strikes, he stressed.

Ukrainian forces had received the relevant orders, and Kyiv was ready to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure provided Russia reciprocated, Zelenskyy said in his evening address on 11 October.

Russia continued attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after the ceasefire was announced, including striking a gas production facility and a petrol station, Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel on 12 October. Moscow had shown no willingness to abide by the ceasefire, the president added.

FM Lavrov warns that Kiev could use a 60-day ceasefire to rebuild its forces.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov did not confirm that Russia had accepted the “energy truce” with Ukraine announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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“Contacts are ongoing. As soon as we have something to say about this, we will inform you,” Peskov said at a news conference, where he reiterated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position on Western calls for a ceasefire.

“We do not want a truce. We want lasting peace, and we are ready to do everything possible to achieve it,” the Kremlin spokesman said, implicitly rejecting the proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called for a 60-day ceasefire to hold elections.

“We are seeking truly effective measures and responsible decisions that pave the way for a peaceful settlement,” Peskov stressed, adding that Russia was “grateful” to Washington for its diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

“If Kiev truly wants to hold elections, then the Russian president, the supreme commander-in-chief, will be ready to order that no attacks be carried out against Ukraine on election day,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

“I do not think Zelensky deserves a pause. I do not think we will fall into the trap of guarantees and promises again,” Peskov commented.

⚠️ 🇷🇺 KREMLIN REJECTS 60-DAY CEASEFIRE FOR UKRAINIAN ELECTIONS, OFFERS JUST ONE DAY – AND STILL WON'T CONFIRM TRUMP'S ENERGY TRUCE

Russia has rejected President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to allow Ukraine to organize presidential elections, offering… pic.twitter.com/ugpBxgjxqy

— The Tectonic (@thetect0nic) October 12, 2026

Speaking on the issue on Monday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that Russia had no obligation to justify its plans to achieve the objectives of the special military operation to anyone.

He warned that Kiev wanted a truce to “regain strength,” during which time its European allies could supply it with new weapons “for the continuation of the terrorist war against the Russian people.”

On Sunday, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to suspend attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.

“Effective immediately, an energy ceasefire is in effect in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have given their consent. Do not violate it!” he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to Axios, Trump announced the truce after repeatedly asking Zelensky to halt attacks on Russian refineries, arguing that Ukrainian strikes were also harming U.S. consumers.

International analysts consider the U.S. war against Iran and the problems in the Strait of Hormuz to be the true drivers of rising global fuel prices.

They also believe that the agreement to supply Russian diesel to Trump does not come close to meeting U.S. needs and will have no substantial impact on international markets.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – Axios