Zelenskyy offers US three alternatives to halting Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he offered Washington three alternatives that could allow Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries: a mutual halt to energy infrastructure attacks, expanded Starlink access over Russian missile launch sites, or additional Patriot air defense missiles.
In an interview with Ukrainian television program TSN Tyzhden, Zelenskyy said the proposals were made in response to US objections to Ukrainian attacks on Russia's oil refining infrastructure.
He argued that Ukraine's strikes were a response to Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian power facilities.
"If you want us not to strike diesel and Russia's oil refining infrastructure, it's very simple. Then they don't strike our electricity infrastructure. And that's fair," Zelenskyy said.
Under the second option, Ukraine would receive Starlink connectivity over specific locations in Russia where ballistic missiles are launched, enabling Ukrainian forces to target the launchers.
Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv was not asking for unrestricted Starlink access across Russian territory.
The third option was additional interceptor missiles for Ukraine's US-made Patriot air defense systems.
Zelenskyy says none of the proposals was fulfilled
According to the Ukrainian president, none of the three alternatives has been implemented.
Instead, he criticized Washington for temporarily easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports and for restrictions that reduced the speed of Ukrainian Starshield connectivity.
"Additional Patriot missiles — nobody gave us anything. Instead of expanding Starlink, they reduced the speed of what we already had," Zelenskyy said.
"We are fighting for our lives. That's normal."
Zelenskyy also complained that deliveries of Patriot interceptors were moving more slowly than Russian missiles.
He said that even when other countries were willing to transfer interceptors from their own stockpiles, deliveries were delayed by the need for written US re-export authorization.
Dispute over refinery strikes
The Trump administration has repeatedly pressed Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries.
On October 9, the US Treasury issued a temporary general license permitting certain Russian diesel exports, following talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy criticized the decision as a concession benefiting Moscow.
Axios subsequently reported that the move followed Ukraine's repeated refusal to stop striking Russian refineries.
Trump later claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire, but Zelenskyy said he had not been informed of such an agreement. He maintained that Kyiv was willing to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow reciprocated.
The Financial Times also reported, citing European officials, that Washington had threatened to suspend weapons purchases and intelligence sharing if Ukraine continued its refinery attacks.
Zelenskyy's latest remarks clarify the alternatives Kyiv says it offered Washington in exchange for ending those strikes.
- Share: