Zelensky Vows To Resume Strikes On Russian Oil Refineries Amid US Support Dispute

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to resume attacks on Russian oil refineries, accusing the United States of withdrawing crucial military support and using intelligence sharing as leverage to pressure Kyiv into halting its strikes.
Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine had restricted attacks on Russian energy infrastructure for three days at Washington’s request, while Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy facilities. He said Ukraine would no longer maintain the restriction under the current circumstances.
The dispute has deepened tensions between Kyiv and Washington over the handling of the war, particularly after the United States reached an agreement involving Russian diesel supplies. Ukraine argues that attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are necessary to reduce Moscow’s revenue and weaken its ability to sustain the invasion.
The disagreement comes as Ukraine faces continued Russian attacks, shortages of some air defence supplies and uncertainty over the availability of American intelligence and satellite communications used by its military.

UKRAINE ACCUSES RUSSIA OF IGNORING ENERGY CEASEFIRE

The latest escalation follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a proposed energy ceasefire intended to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
Zelensky had previously indicated that Ukraine was willing to observe the arrangement if Russia also stopped attacking Ukrainian energy facilities.
However, he accused Moscow of continuing its strikes within hours of the proposal being announced. According to the Ukrainian president, the attacks damaged energy infrastructure and left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity.
The Kremlin did not publicly confirm that Russia had agreed to the proposed ceasefire, complicating efforts to establish whether a mutual arrangement was in place.
Zelensky’s position is that Ukraine should not be expected to suspend its attacks on Russian energy targets while Russian forces continue striking Ukrainian infrastructure.
The dispute highlights a central challenge in negotiating limited ceasefires during an ongoing war: both sides must agree to the same conditions and demonstrate that they are observing them.

RUSSIA REPORTS ATTACK ON RYAZAN OIL REFINERY

The Kremlin said Ukraine had attempted a large scale attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan, south of Moscow, early on Thursday.
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that four missiles and dozens of drones had been intercepted. It also said falling debris caused a fire at the site.
The claims came as Ukraine indicated that it would resume attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. The full extent of the reported damage and the operational impact on the refinery were not independently established in the information available.
Oil refineries are important to Russia’s economy because they process crude oil into fuels and other petroleum products. Attacks on these facilities can disrupt production, affect fuel supplies and increase the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian energy facilities as part of its effort to weaken the economic resources supporting Moscow’s military campaign.
Meanwhile, Zelensky said dozens of Ukrainian cities had come under Russian attack during the preceding day, underscoring the continuing threat to civilian areas and essential services.

ZELENSKY ACCUSES WASHINGTON OF WITHHOLDING INTELLIGENCE

One of the most serious allegations made by Zelensky concerns the sharing of US intelligence on Russian attacks.
The Ukrainian president told the Financial Times that Ukrainian officials had been warned by American counterparts that intelligence sharing could be blocked if Kyiv refused to stop striking Russian energy infrastructure.
Zelensky said Ukraine had been told that continued attacks could result in the withdrawal of intelligence support.
American intelligence plays an important role in helping Ukraine identify incoming Russian aerial threats and organise defensive responses. Early warning information can give Ukrainian forces additional time to deploy air defence systems and protect populated areas.
A reduction in that support could make it more difficult for Ukraine to respond effectively to Russian missile and drone attacks.
US President Donald Trump denied halting intelligence sharing. The competing statements have left questions about the extent of any restrictions and the conditions under which intelligence assistance is being provided.
The dispute has added to concerns in Kyiv and among European governments about the reliability of American support as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia.

STARLINK RESTRICTIONS RAISE FURTHER CONCERNS

Zelensky also accused the United States of deliberately restricting satellite communication services used by Ukraine’s military.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides high speed satellite internet that Ukrainian forces use to communicate with units near the front line, coordinate operations and support drone missions.
Its military focused sister service, Starshield, operates under a contract with the US Department of Defense.
Ukrainian officials reportedly said they had not received advance warning before a speed restriction was imposed on the system. Zelensky rejected suggestions that the disruption was simply a technical fault, arguing that the restrictions reflected a deliberate decision.
Musk denied that SpaceX was independently responsible for the limits and suggested that control rested with the US government and military.
The BBC reported that Ukrainian defence officials said Starshield services had been restored by early Thursday. They were still seeking clarification about the circumstances and reasons behind the previous restrictions.
The incident has highlighted Ukraine’s dependence on satellite communications and the potential consequences of interruptions to services that have become integral to its military operations.

UK AND EUROPEAN LEADERS RALLY AROUND UKRAINE

Zelensky made his comments during a visit to London on Wednesday, where he sought continued international backing as relations with Washington deteriorated.
The United Kingdom announced that it would accelerate deliveries of lightweight multirole missiles to Kyiv. The move forms part of wider European efforts to help Ukraine maintain its defences as the war continues.
European leaders are also expected to discuss Ukraine at their summit in Brussels, where questions about military assistance, intelligence support and the future of the transatlantic relationship are likely to feature prominently.
European governments face growing pressure to provide additional support if American assistance becomes less predictable. However, replacing US intelligence capabilities and some advanced weapons systems would be difficult, particularly over a short period.
The availability of air defence missiles is especially important because Ukraine must protect its cities, energy facilities and other critical infrastructure against repeated Russian attacks.

PATRIOT MISSILES BECOME CENTRAL TO KYIV’S POSITION

Zelensky told the Financial Times that he would now consider halting attacks on Russian oil infrastructure only if the United States supplied additional Patriot air defence missiles.
Patriot systems are among the advanced air defence weapons used by Ukraine to intercept certain incoming missiles and protect important targets.
Ukraine has faced shortages of these systems and their interceptors, while the wider conflict involving Iran has placed additional demands on international weapons stockpiles.
For Kyiv, obtaining more air defence equipment is essential to reducing the damage caused by Russian attacks. The condition set out by Zelensky also indicates that Ukraine wants any restraint on its own operations to be accompanied by concrete security benefits.
However, whether Washington will accept that condition remains uncertain. The disagreement reflects the broader difficulty of coordinating military strategy when Ukraine and its most important external supporters have different priorities.

RUSSIAN DIESEL DEAL DEEPENS DISAGREEMENT

Zelensky has also criticised an agreement involving Russia and the United States to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel for the US and global marketplace.
The arrangement has drawn criticism from Kyiv because revenue generated by Russian energy exports can contribute to the resources available to sustain Moscow’s war effort.
The deal comes as the Trump administration faces domestic pressure over rising fuel prices, particularly diesel and petrol, following the wider conflict involving Iran.
Trump has sought to reduce energy costs for American consumers ahead of the US midterm elections. However, efforts to increase available fuel supplies have raised questions about how Washington balances domestic economic priorities with its policy towards Russia.
Zelensky warned that further arrangements involving Russian energy products could follow, including possible agreements concerning gas.
His criticism reflects Ukraine’s concern that commercial arrangements benefiting Russia could undermine attempts to restrict the revenue available to finance its military campaign.
The United States has not accepted Zelensky’s characterisation of its intelligence policy, and the broader dispute remains unresolved.

TENSIONS BETWEEN TRUMP AND ZELENSKY DEEPEN

Relations between Trump and Zelensky have experienced repeated periods of tension since Trump returned to the White House.
Their disagreements have centred on military assistance, the conditions for negotiations with Russia and the terms of a possible peace settlement.
During a contentious meeting in the Oval Office last year, Trump suggested that Zelensky was obstructing a peace agreement. Since then, the Ukrainian president has attempted to maintain cooperation with Washington while insisting that any settlement must provide Ukraine with meaningful security guarantees.
Zelensky has now taken a more confrontational public position, arguing that Ukraine did not cause the deterioration in relations and should not be expected to repair the relationship alone.
The dispute raises questions about the future of US involvement in the war and the extent to which Washington will continue providing the military and intelligence support on which Ukraine relies.

WHAT THE DISPUTE MEANS FOR THE WAR

The latest disagreement could affect both Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory and its strategy for putting economic pressure on Russia.
If intelligence sharing or satellite communications were restricted for an extended period, Ukrainian forces could face additional difficulties detecting incoming attacks, coordinating troops and operating drones.
At the same time, continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries could disrupt petroleum production and increase pressure on Russia’s energy sector, although the military and economic effects would depend on the scale of the damage and how quickly facilities could be repaired.
European support may help Ukraine address some gaps, but replacing American capabilities would require additional resources, coordination and time.
The immediate focus will be on whether Washington and Kyiv can resolve their dispute over intelligence, satellite services and air defence supplies, and whether both sides can agree on conditions for any future energy ceasefire.
For Ukraine, the priority remains protecting its population and infrastructure while maintaining the capacity to resist Russia’s invasion. For its Western partners, the challenge is balancing diplomatic efforts, military support and wider economic interests as the conflict continues.