GOP lawmaker defends Trump’s energy ceasefire push, rips Putin over betrayal

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) on Wednesday expressed his support for President Trump’s recent push for an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but he also slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s apparent betrayal of the claimed ceasefire.

“President Trump did the right thing by trying to force an energy ceasefire. You have to *try*. But unfortunately a deal depends on the parties involved – and Putin is a backstabbing liar,” Crenshaw said in a Wednesday post on the social platform X.

“Putin should not get away with trying to embarrass our President. He should regret it,” the Texas Republican added. “Apply the sanctions under the full force of the new law. Enable Ukrainian drones to bomb the HELL out of Russian infrastructure. It’s time. It costs us NOTHING.”

On Sunday, Trump claimed an energy ceasefire deal had come together between Russia and Ukraine, only a few days after his administration unveiled a deal to acquire diesel from Russia while lifting sanctions.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said on Truth Social at the time. “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!”

Later Sunday, Russia struck a power plant in eastern Ukraine, contradicting Trump’s earlier announcement.

ABC News reported over the weekend, citing a local official, that a power plant in the city of Kharkiv had been struck twice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strikes, alongside others.

“Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian ‘shaheds’ all day today. There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening,” Zelensky said Sunday on X.

Zelensky did not appear to be aware of Trump’s claim of an energy ceasefire after he announced it, saying to Axios that the deal “was news for me.”

“But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” he added.