Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that his country will continue to target Russian oil refineries unless the US provides Patriot missiles to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
What happened
Zelenskyy made this statement in an interview, where he acknowledged discussing the attacks on oil facilities with the Trump administration. He emphasized that Ukraine's response to Russian strikes on its energy system must be "painful" for the Russian military.
The Ukrainian president suggested that his country might stop attacking Russian oil facilities if the US delivers more Patriot missile interceptors to protect Ukrainian skies. Zelenskyy also urged President Trump to launch a push for a targeted ceasefire, where both Russia and Ukraine refrain from attacks on energy facilities, during upcoming peace talks in the United Arab Emirates.
Zelenskyy's comments come as Ukraine has reported near-daily Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure, triggering power outages ahead of winter. The US-Ukraine relations have been strained, particularly after President Trump struck a deal to import Russian diesel to the US.
Despite the tensions, Zelenskyy welcomed a humanitarian truce brokered by First Lady Melania Trump, which allowed starved and exhausted residents to leave a Russian-controlled town and cross into Ukrainian-held territory. He called the evacuations "a huge result" and expressed gratitude to the First Lady.
