Volodymyr Zelensky says Kyiv will restart attacks on Russian oil sites after US pressure

Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine will restart targeting energy facilities in Russia, calling an end to a brief pause that followed American pressure. The Ukrainian president mentioned he had halted these strikes for three days at Washington's request, even though Russian forces kept hitting power grids inside Ukraine.

US Tension

Zelensky claimed the US cut off intelligence sharing regarding incoming aerial raids and slowed down military internet connections to force Kyiv to drop the strikes permanently. The diplomatic strain follows a US-brokered energy truce proposed by Donald Trump, which Moscow disregarded while leaving many Ukrainians without electricity. Elon Musk's Starlink services faced sudden slowdowns that Ukrainian officials believe were intentional, though military-grade Starshield links were later restored.

International Talks

During a trip to London, Zelensky met with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who promised faster shipments of lightweight missiles to Kyiv. European leaders are also discussing the diplomatic fallout during a summit in Brussels. Zelensky stated he would only pause the refinery attacks again if the US provides additional Patriot air defense systems to counter ongoing shortages.

Context

Targeting fuel infrastructure is a key strategy for Kyiv to restrict funds flowing into Moscow's military operations. The diplomatic frictions stem from broader negotiations over energy deals and peace terms involving Washington, Moscow, and European allies.