Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv will continue striking Russian oil infrastructure unless Moscow halts its attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. He stressed that any energy ceasefire must be mutual.
The Ukrainian leader made the remarks during an address to the Warsaw Security Forum, commenting on an agreement announced by US President Donald Trump to halt strikes on energy facilities.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s main condition for such a ceasefire is the protection of power plants, electricity grids, and critical infrastructure. He pointed out that Russia continued attacking Ukraine’s energy facilities even after Trump’s announcement.
The president also highlighted the imbalance between the two countries’ energy resources. Ukraine has only one oil refinery, relies on imports of diesel fuel and other petroleum products, and lacks the vast oil resources available to Russia.
At the same time, according to Zelensky, Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and oil exports are already causing significant problems for Moscow.
“If Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes on its oil refineries and oil exports, then Russia must stop its strikes on our energy system and critical infrastructure and stop killing our people. That is fair,” Zelensky declared.
He stressed that Ukraine has repeatedly proposed ending mutual attacks on energy facilities and that the US administration fully understands how important this issue is for Kyiv.
On October 11, Donald Trump announced what he described as an energy ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia. However, the White House later clarified that the arrangement concerned a mutual halt to strikes on oil refineries.
Kyiv, meanwhile, insists that any agreement must also cover Ukrainian power plants, electricity grids, and other critical infrastructure facilities.
Leave a comment