Zelensky: Ukraine will strike Russian refineries again as "blockade lifted"

End of moratorium on strikes on oil infrastructure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially announced that Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. He made this statement during an interview with the Financial Times.

«Блокування [ударів по НПЗ] знято. З нас досить», – наголосив глава держави. ("The blockade [of strikes on refineries] has been lifted. We have had enough," the head of state emphasised.)

Previously, Washington pressured Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian oil processing facilities. The American side justified this by the need to lower fuel prices in the US, citing an agreement signed with Moscow to purchase hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel fuel.

Crisis over Starlink and intelligence data

Zelensky expressed outrage over the “dangerous” cessation of intelligence information exchange with the US and the simultaneous weakening of the Starlink satellite internet service. This occurred against the backdrop of intense Russian attacks.

According to the president, Ukrainian military officials received a warning from their American counterparts: «Якщо ви не припините [удари по енергетичній інфраструктурі], ми заблокуємо розвіддані». ("If you do not stop [strikes on energy infrastructure], we will block intelligence data.")

Later, Kyiv was told the situation was due to a technical glitch. However, Zelensky rejected the version of equipment malfunction. «Це не технічна проблема, а воля», – заявив він. ("This is not a technical problem, it's a matter of will," he stated.)

It is worth noting that Donald Trump previously denied that Washington had stopped the exchange of intelligence data with Ukraine.

Assessment of relations with the US and Trump

The president criticised Washington’s desire to conclude business deals with Moscow and Trump’s obvious fascination with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. When asked to comment on the relationship between the two leaders, Zelensky noted the natural inclination of the American president towards autocrats and extremely wealthy people.

«Він [Трамп] відкрито й голосно говорить, що любить таких людей і поважає їх. Тому що для нього люди, які можуть бути лідерами 20, 30, 40 років, – це означає, що вони можуть бути дуже сильними», – пояснив Зеленський. ("He [Trump] openly and loudly says that he loves such people and respects them. Because for him, people who can be leaders for 20, 30, 40 years – that means they can be very strong," Zelensky explained.)

At the same time, the head of state emphasised that Ukraine’s relations with the US as a fair and strategic partner are of decisive importance in the fight against Russia, comparing them with Kyiv’s relations with the United Kingdom.

«Росія може воювати… проти всіх нас, але лише тоді, коли ми не разом», – зазначив президент, додавши, що відновлення відносин із Білим домом не залежить від нього особисто: «Це не ми зруйнували жодних відносин». ("Russia can fight… against all of us, but only when we are not together," the president noted, adding that the restoration of relations with the White House does not depend on him personally: "We did not ruin any relations.")

Conditions for possible cessation of strikes

In response to a question about whether Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure even if Russian attacks continue, in order to improve relations with the White House, Zelensky replied that he could agree only on the condition of providing additional American Patriot missile interceptors.

«Це був би "мінімум", про який я просив. Натомість у відповідь на запити про посилення протиповітряної оборони американська сторона обмежила роботу Starlink», – розповів він. ("This would be the 'minimum' that I asked for. In return, in response to requests for strengthening air defence, the American side restricted the operation of Starlink," he said.)

The president also warned that stopping strikes on Russian energy infrastructure could encourage the US and Russia to conclude new deals, which would potentially provide additional funds for the Russian war machine.

«Питання лише в тому, коли буде наступна угода. Можливо, це буде газ. Це точно буде газ. Між Сполученими Штатами та Росією цікаві ділові відносини. Я думаю, що вони [американці] хочуть мати енергетичні проєкти, а… звісно, їм складно робити це, коли в Європі триває війна», – додав Зеленський. ("The question is only when the next deal will be. Maybe it will be gas. It will definitely be gas. There are interesting business relations between the United States and Russia. I think they [Americans] want to have energy projects, and… of course, it is difficult for them to do this while a war is ongoing in Europe," Zelensky added.)

Strategic assessment and internal challenges

Zelensky suggested that Trump may face a negative reaction from American society. Regarding calls for his resignation, the president called such statements “rhetoric” that would not be liked by Americans and would only play into Putin’s hands.

«Важливо те, що Путін не відчуває тиску. Коли він не відчуває тиску, він атакує, тому що отримує від цього величезне задоволення. Розкол між Європою та Сполученими Штатами або між Україною та Сполученими Штатами допомагає йому [Путіну] об’єднувати свій народ. Це створює в нього відчуття успіху. Допомагає йому відчувати, що він не програє, а перемагає», – розповів президент, зауваживши, що Путін насправді не перемагає. ("What is important is that Putin does not feel pressure. When he does not feel pressure, he attacks, because he gets enormous pleasure from it. The split between Europe and the United States or between Ukraine and the United States helps him [Putin] unite his people. It creates a sense of success in him. It helps him feel that he is not losing, but winning," the president said, noting that Putin is not actually winning.)

He also noted the volatile nature of the struggle for superiority in military technologies, particularly in the field of drones: one month the advantage is on Ukraine’s side, the next – Russia’s.

Context: consequences of pressure and current events

Zelensky reported that he suspended strikes on energy infrastructure for three days to fulfil the US request. Meanwhile, Moscow continued to deliver massive strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and kill civilians. According to him, more than 100 civilians were killed in just the last week.

The deterioration of relations between Kyiv and Washington became the sharpest crisis between Ukraine and its most important security partner since Trump and his senior officials publicly criticised Zelensky in the Oval Office in February last year.

It was already known late today that in Ryazan, local residents and monitoring channels are reporting a fire at a refinery. Meanwhile, an oil tank that exploded in Rostov yesterday continues to burn.

Recall that the Defence Forces of Ukraine struck a number of military facilities of the Russian army on 6 October and in the night of 6 October into 7 October. Among the targets were the “Sescha” airfield, electronic warfare and radar stations, UAV control points, and warehouses.