Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukraine will resume long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries after U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempt to broker an energy “ceasefire” failed, according to an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday. Zelensky told the FT that “the block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” adding that the decision followed Russia’s continued strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite Trump’s announcement of a truce.
Zelensky’s remarks came amid growing tensions with Washington. In an interview with Piers Morgan on Wednesday, he said it was “painful” when Trump “took a side, and it’s not our side,” and confirmed he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s diesel deal with Russia. “It’s a pity that we’re losing a strong partner,” Zelensky said, emphasizing that Ukraine’s survival, not business, was at stake. He also criticized Trump’s advisers, stating, “I think his advisers are wrong. I don’t know who is pushing him not to the right side. This is not the right side of history.”
The Ukrainian president further condemned the U.S. withdrawal of intelligence sharing and restrictions on Starlink satellite internet access, calling the latter “a big mistake” that would cost lives. Trump had announced on October 10 a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on diesel supplies, later claiming an energy truce had been agreed. Zelensky said the truce “was news” to him, and Russia continued attacking Ukrainian power plants, including strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv that left 600,000 people without power.
Zelensky also rejected Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine needs a new president to “make a deal,” stating that only Ukrainians could decide their leadership. The U.S. had warned Ukraine it would halt intelligence sharing if strikes on Russian refineries continued, according to The Washington Post.
