Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed halting strikes on Russian oil refineries if the United States meets one of three conditions, he said in an interview broadcast on 26 October.
Zelensky told journalist Alla Mazur that Ukraine would stop targeting Russian refineries if Moscow ceased attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, if Washington enabled Starlink coverage over Russia to locate and destroy Russian missile launchers, or if the US supplied additional missiles for Patriot air defence systems. He said none of the proposals had been accepted, so Ukraine continues the strikes.
He argued that Russian diesel exports represent only 2% of the global total, making Ukraine’s refinery strikes unlikely to disrupt world markets. “They must respect Ukraine – and our strength,” Zelensky said. “He inflicts great pain upon us, and we respond. It is a matter of justice.”
The proposal comes as Ukraine, the US, and Russia prepare for trilateral talks in November, which Zelensky confirmed on 25 October. He warned that sanctions on Russia should not be lifted before any agreement to end the war, saying such a move would remove leverage without guaranteeing peace. “Sanctions were imposed in response to aggression, not as a price for the mere opportunity to talk,” he said.
Zelensky also said Ukraine, the US, the European Union, and NATO plan a broader security meeting in Brussels this week to discuss guarantees and European integration. The expanded format follows a US delegation’s visit to St. Petersburg and preliminary briefings with Ukraine.
He reiterated that Ukraine would not accept neutrality or restrictions on its military as part of any settlement. “We cannot talk about the neutrality of our state. We cannot talk about limiting the Ukrainian army,” Zelensky said.
