Ukraine may restart strikes on Russian refineries, Zelensky says, amid US tensions

Strikes tied to US support

Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukrainian officials had been warned by US counterparts that intelligence could be blocked unless Ukraine stopped striking Russian targets. He said Kyiv would resume attacks on Russian oil refineries.

He said Ukraine would pause strikes on Russian oil infrastructure only if the United States supplied additional Patriot air defence missiles. Kyiv says attacks on the infrastructure are important for cutting revenue to Russia’s war effort.

Trump denied halting intelligence-sharing. Zelensky’s claims about US pressure and the reported Starlink slowdown were not confirmed by the information in the account.

Diesel deal draws criticism

Zelensky criticised an agreement between Russia and the United States to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets. He described the deal as the United States effectively investing in Russia’s war effort.

The agreement came as the conflict drove petrol prices higher, particularly diesel, and harmed Trump’s standing with the American public. Zelensky said Russia ignored a proposed deal within hours of its announcement, with attacks leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without electricity. The Kremlin never said it had agreed to that deal.

Dispute over Starlink slowdown

Zelensky also said a slowdown in Starlink satellite services used by Ukraine’s military was deliberate and connected to pressure on Kyiv. Suggestions that the service disruption resulted from a technical fault were disputed; Elon Musk appeared to reject that explanation and pointed to the Trump administration.

The account also described strained relations between Trump and Zelensky. During a meeting at the White House last year, Trump suggested Zelensky was the main obstacle to a peace deal. Zelensky told the newspaper that Trump had an affinity for autocratic leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.