Zelensky Vows to Resume Russian Oil Refinery Strikes, Warns US Over Intelligence Cuts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to resume attacks on Russian oil refineries, adopting a more defiant tone towards US President Donald Trump amid growing tensions over Washington’s support for Kyiv.

In an interview published on Thursday by the Financial Times, Zelensky said Ukraine had lifted its pause on refinery attacks following renewed Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“The block (on attacking refineries) is out. We’re done,” he told the newspaper.

The statement followed a fresh wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian facilities on Wednesday, despite Trump’s announcement last week of what he described as an “energy ceasefire”. The arrangement was not publicly confirmed by both sides, and Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Russia, on Thursday, accused Ukraine of attacking an oil refinery in Ryazan, a city southeast of Moscow.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian power infrastructure, while Kyiv has expanded retaliatory attacks against targets inside Russian territory, including oil refineries.

Trump has criticised Ukraine’s refinery strikes, particularly after reaching a surprise diesel deal with Moscow and calling on Kyiv to stop targeting Russian oil facilities.

Zelensky said Ukraine had suspended the attacks for several days despite Russian allegations that Kyiv attempted to strike refineries during the pause. Ukraine has denied those claims.

However, the Ukrainian leader told the Financial Times that his country subsequently experienced restrictions on access to key US military capabilities and intelligence support.

He also raised concerns about the slowing of Starshield, a satellite network built on Starlink technology and used by military organisations.

“It was not a technical problem; it was the will,” Zelensky said, suggesting that the disruption reflected a deliberate decision rather than a technical fault.

The Ukrainian president warned that cutting off intelligence-sharing arrangements with Washington would be “dangerous” for his country, which relies heavily on early-warning information to protect cities from Russian aerial attacks.

Concerns over possible restrictions on US intelligence cooperation have persisted since a public confrontation between Trump and Zelensky earlier in the American president’s second term.

Since then, Kyiv has sought to repair relations with Washington while navigating Trump’s changing positions on the war and US support for Ukraine.

During the interview, Zelensky also made pointed remarks about Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Trump speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people,” Zelensky said, referring to leaders who remain in power for decades.

“For him people who can be leaders 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, it means they can be very strong,” he added.

The remarks underline the diplomatic challenges facing Kyiv as it seeks continued American military and intelligence assistance while maintaining its campaign against Russian military and energy targets.