Ukraine Will Halt Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries Only If Russia Stops Attacking Ukrainian Energy Sites
Zelensky rejected US pressure for a unilateral halt on refinery strikes, saying Kyiv would stop only if Moscow stops hitting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected US pressure for Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries on its own. He said Kyiv was willing to suspend such strikes only if Russian President Vladimir Putin halts attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
On Saturday 10 October, US President Donald Trump had warned Ukraine to stop attacking the refineries. A day earlier, Washington and Moscow had announced a surprise diesel deal, which Zelensky called a gift to Putin that had emboldened Moscow.
The dispute is tied to global fuel prices. Reuters noted that Trump's war in Iran has been widely blamed for raising fuel prices worldwide, and Al Jazeera reported that mutual attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine were adding further pressure on global energy markets.
Zelensky said the quickest way to protect energy sites on both sides would be a mutual halt, which Ukraine says it is ready to accept immediately.