Kallas: EU has not yet seen Russia comply with the energy ceasefire

The European Union welcomes the agreement on an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, but has yet to see evidence that Moscow is complying with it, and is therefore calling for increased sanctions pressure.

"We welcome the energy ceasefire when it holds. We haven't yet seen that also Russia will stick to it. Personally, I would also welcome that the ceasefire would include people not being killed, not only energy," Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said before the start of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

Kallas emphasised the importance of protecting Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of winter and at the same time cautioned against an agreement that would apply only to oil refineries.

"Energy is extremely important because the winter is going to be cold. And so it's important that it doesn't only apply to the refineries, where, you know, Ukraine has one, and Russia has plenty, so that is definitely in the benefit of the Russians," Kallas said.

She also called for continued sanctions pressure on Russia.

On 12 October, the foreign ministers of the EU member states are set to approve 1,646 new listings – the largest ever amount of Russia sanctions approved at once.

On 12 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Council will also discuss the possibility of introducing further restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats between EU member states, potentially including a complete ban on travel outside the country to which they are accredited.

On 11 October, Trump claimed that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire.

A White House official told Axios that an "energy ceasefire", as understood by the US president, means that Russia and Ukraine will stop attacks solely on each other's oil refineries.