Ukraine offers to halt refinery attacks if Russia stops strikes on its energy infrastructure
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would halt attacks on Russian refineries only under a reciprocal deal with real guarantees, after Donald Trump demanded Kyiv stop.
Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukraine is ready to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday. His remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s demand that Kyiv unilaterally end its attacks.
Ukraine calls for reciprocal halt
Zelenskiy reiterated Ukraine’s long-standing position that attacks on Russian refineries could stop only as part of a mutual de-escalation requiring Moscow to cease strikes on Ukrainian power infrastructure. Any agreement would need “real guarantees”, he said.
“The real cause of the war in Europe is Russia and Russia alone,” Zelenskiy said, without referring specifically to Trump’s remarks. “It’s possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but Putin does not want to do so.”
Trump links refinery attacks to diesel prices
On Saturday, Trump blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for rising US diesel prices and said Zelenskiy had “better damn well stop”. He also said Ukraine should replace Zelenskiy as leader, arguing that he had missed several opportunities to reach a deal with Moscow.
The steep increase in global diesel prices followed the outbreak of the Iran war in February. It has become a political liability for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of next month’s midterm elections, when opposition Democrats could gain control of one or both houses of Congress.
Russian diesel deal draws criticism
Zelenskiy reacted angrily on Saturday to Trump’s announcement of a diesel supply agreement with Russia, saying it would embolden Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine.
Analysts said the agreement was unlikely to produce sustained reductions in fuel prices because the volumes remained far below Russia’s usual exports when its refineries are not under attack.
US lawmakers also criticised the deal. Representative Don Bacon, a fellow Republican, said it was time to impose more sanctions rather than lift them.
On the streets of Kyiv, several residents expressed anger at Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine should find a new leader willing to reach a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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