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Zelensky Vows to Keep Striking Russian Refineries After Trump Says Ukraine Needs a ‘New Leader’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to keep striking Russian oil refineries, defying direct pressure from US President Donald Trump, who told reporters on Saturday that Ukraine should “get a new leader who can make a deal.” The exchange marks the sharpest rupture yet between Kyiv and Washington over an energy war that is driving global fuel prices higher weeks before America’s midterm elections.
“Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure,” Zelensky wrote on X on Sunday. “It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but (Russian President Vladimir) Putin does not want to do so.” He stressed that any de-escalation must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees.
A standoff over diesel and winter
Zelensky told Reuters in an interview published earlier this month that Ukraine would intensify attacks on Russian refineries in response to what he described as a broadened Russian campaign against Ukrainian cities ahead of winter, citing intelligence on Moscow’s plans. “We have to respond in any way we can,” he said. “With their attacks on our energy, we have to respond on their energy.”
Trump blames the refinery campaign for record diesel prices at home. In a Friday phone call, he struck a deal with Putin to allow Russian diesel into US and global markets — a move lawmakers from both parties said appeared to violate US law barring Russian energy imports. Trump told reporters Zelensky “wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers with diesel fuel” and “better damn well stop” hitting refineries.
Ceasefire diplomacy under strain
The row complicates an already fragile diplomatic picture. Trump recently announced a ceasefire covering energy attacks by both countries, but Moscow has given no sign of observing it — Zelensky said Russia violated the truce by striking a Ukrainian gas facility — while G7 nations are moving to release up to 100 million barrels of emergency fuel to cushion a diesel crunch. With another celebrated ceasefire existing largely in name, the administration’s deal-making faces credibility questions on two fronts.
For Washington, the calendar is unforgiving: the November 3 midterms are three weeks away, and polls suggest the contests are swinging toward Democratic control of Congress. Whether American voters blame Kyiv’s drones or Moscow’s bombs for the price at the pump may decide how much leverage Trump has left — a dynamic this year’s Nobel Peace Prize debate has already put under a harsh light.
