President Zelenskyy links refinery strikes to protection of Ukraine’s energy system
Cyberzenhub.com – President Zelenskyy said Ukraine would stop attacking Russian diesel facilities if Russia halted its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He presented the proposal as a reciprocal measure intended to reduce damage to civilian life during the war.
In an interview, President Zelenskyy said Kyiv had repeatedly told President Donald Trump and his administration that Ukraine was ready to pursue peace, a ceasefire and practical steps to lower tensions.
“I said it to President Trump … to his team and to his people several times: we want peace, we are ready for [a] ceasefire, we are ready to begin from any kind of steps of de-escalation,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, he argued, were tied to Russia’s continuing campaign against Ukrainian energy assets. His position was that a pause in attacks should apply to both countries rather than requiring Ukraine to stop unilaterally.
“And if the Russians want us not [to] attack their diesel, their refineries and etc., we are asking President Trump, give them signal not attack energy infrastructure of Ukraine.”
A proposed pause in energy attacks
President Zelenskyy described the arrangement as simple: Russia should stop attacking Ukraine, killing Ukrainian children and damaging power-related infrastructure, while Ukraine would stop hitting Russian diesel facilities. He called that a fair deal.
After the interview aired, Trump wrote on social media that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire and urged both sides not to violate it. However, a senior figure in Ukraine’s presidential office said Kyiv had not been notified beforehand and learned of the claimed agreement through social media.
The uncertainty highlighted a central problem for any energy ceasefire: a public announcement does not establish how the pause would be communicated, monitored or enforced. Ukraine’s stated position was mutual restraint linked to protection of its civilian infrastructure.
Trump criticizes strikes on Russian refineries
Trump had criticized Ukraine’s refinery campaign a day earlier, saying the strikes were worsening diesel prices during a wider energy crisis. He said Ukraine had been told it could act against Russia but should avoid refinery targets because of their potential effect on global diesel supplies.
“We said you could do whatever you want to Russia, don’t hit the refineries, because that’s a world problem that’s caused. And [Zelenskyy] wants to make problems for the world,” Trump said.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, attacks on energy systems have threatened electricity, heating, transport, industry and daily life. President Zelenskyy’s proposal connected a reduction in refinery attacks with an end to strikes on Ukraine’s energy network.
A senior Ukrainian source said Kyiv expected the Trump administration to stop providing U.S. intelligence used to track Russian missile launches after Ukraine refused to end attacks on Russia’s oil sector.
Strain between Trump and Zelenskyy
The refinery dispute added to an already difficult relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy. Their 2025 Oval Office meeting became a public confrontation in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy’s handling of the war. Zelenskyy was also falsely blamed for starting the conflict.
Trump’s criticism followed his announcement of a U.S. arrangement with Russia to import 300,000 tons of diesel fuel immediately, with millions more tons expected to follow. President Zelenskyy called the arrangement a sign of weakness and warned that it could benefit Moscow’s war effort.
“It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world,” Zelenskyy said.
FAQ: Ukraine energy attacks and refinery strikes
What did President Zelenskyy propose? He said Ukraine would halt strikes on Russian diesel facilities if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Did Ukraine confirm an immediate energy ceasefire? A senior official in Ukraine’s presidential office said Kyiv had not been informed in advance of Trump’s social-media announcement and did not have information about the reported agreement.
Why are energy targets important in Ukraine? Damage to energy infrastructure can disrupt essential services, including electricity, heating, transport and industry, affecting civilians across the country.
