Foto: BB.LV / Зеленский
Ukraine no longer intends to adhere to restrictions on strikes against Russian oil refineries. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in an interview with the British newspaper Financial Times, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine, citing LETA. > “The ban is lifted. It’s over,” Zelensky said, commenting on the decision to resume attacks on Russian energy facilities. According to the Ukrainian president, Kyiv had refrained from such strikes for three days in an effort to accommodate American partners. However, Russia continued to attack Ukraine. Zelensky claims that over 100 people have died as a result of Russian strikes just in the past week. Against this backdrop, the Ukrainian side decided to abandon its unilateral limitation of its actions. ## The threat of intelligence data cutoff and issues with Starlink Zelensky also spoke about pressure from the U.S., which, according to him, accompanied discussions about strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. The president claims that American partners warned Ukrainian military officials about a possible cessation of intelligence data transmission if the attacks did not stop. > “If you do not stop the attacks on energy facilities, we will block intelligence data,” Zelensky conveyed the content of the warning. Subsequently, according to him, the Ukrainian army indeed temporarily lost access to early warning information about ballistic missile launches provided by the U.S. Later, Kyiv was informed that the incident was due to a technical error. At the same time, Zelensky reported a slowdown in the operation of the Starlink satellite system across Ukraine. He dismissed the suggestion that the communication issues were a random technical failure. > “It was not a technical problem, but a lack of will,” the president stated. These assertions by Zelensky pertain to actions by the American side. There is no independent confirmation of the reasons for the limitations on intelligence data and the issues with Starlink in the provided statement. For Ukraine, access to warnings about ballistic missiles and stable satellite communication is of particular importance: these systems are used for timely responses to threats and ensuring communications. ## Under what conditions Ukraine is ready to cease strikes Zelensky stated that Kyiv could agree to cease attacks on Russian energy facilities even amid ongoing Russian strikes, but only upon receiving additional air defense resources. In particular, this concerns interceptor missiles for American Patriot systems. According to the president, this is the minimum condition that Ukraine puts forward in exchange for such a limitation. However, instead of strengthening air defense, Kyiv, as Zelensky claims, faced restrictions in the operation of Starlink. Thus, the Ukrainian side links the possibility of further concessions not only to Russia's actions but also to specific guarantees of protection against air attacks. ## Zelensky fears new agreements between the U.S. and Russia In the interview with Financial Times, the Ukrainian president also expressed concern about possible agreements between Washington and Moscow. In his opinion, Ukraine's refusal to strike Russian energy facilities without reciprocal commitments could create conditions for new agreements between the U.S. and Russia. > “The question is, when will the next agreement be reached? Perhaps it will be about gas. Undoubtedly, it will be about gas,” Zelensky stated. This is the Ukrainian president's assumption, not a report of an agreement reached or being prepared. Separately, Zelensky commented on U.S. President Donald Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin. According to him, Trump openly expresses sympathy for leaders who can remain in power for decades. Trump's calls for Zelensky to resign were labeled by the Ukrainian president as political rhetoric that, in his opinion, plays into the hands of the Kremlin. > “The rift between Europe and the United States or between Ukraine and the United States helps him unite his nation. It gives him a sense of success,” Zelensky said, referring to Putin. At the same time, the president of Ukraine emphasized that he does not question the strategic importance of relations with Washington. He acknowledged that without American support, it would be "very difficult" for Ukraine to continue the war. Thus, Kyiv simultaneously declares its readiness to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries while seeking to maintain cooperation with the U.S., which is crucial for key elements of Ukrainian defense.
