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“Give Us Interceptor Missiles”: Zelenskyy Backs Energy Ceasefire With Russia if US Helps Ukraine
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to maintaining open and transparent relations with the United States, while expressing support for a mutual energy ceasefire with Russia, provided Washington supplies sufficient interceptor missiles to protect Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera on October 20, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of honesty and cooperation in Ukraine’s relationship with the United States, according to remarks published on his official Telegram channel.
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“I have always wanted to hide nothing and never lie to the President of the United States. In any case, we have more in common than America does with Russia. Most people in Ukraine and the United States understand this. We would like to continue having the same open, honest, and pragmatic relations with America that we have today,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president noted that Kyiv and Washington have maintained strong strategic ties, which have developed particularly actively since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
He also expressed gratitude for US assistance, stressing that Ukraine has consistently sought to build its relationship with Washington on honesty, fairness, and transparency.
Addressing the possibility of an energy ceasefire with Russia, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine supports a reciprocal agreement under which both sides would refrain from targeting each other’s energy infrastructure.
However, he stressed that Ukraine must retain the ability to defend itself against Russian attacks, arguing that any restrictions on Ukrainian retaliatory strikes should be accompanied by additional air defense assistance from the United States.
“Our position is very simple. We support a mutual energy ceasefire. If we are talking about not responding against Russian energy facilities after they strike our gas, electricity, oil—everything. The Russians strike. America cannot stop them. Let us believe that America really wants to, but cannot,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president added that he was prepared to accommodate US President Donald Trump’s position on limiting attacks against energy infrastructure, but insisted that Ukraine should not be left defenseless.
“Then, as a partner, I am willing to meet President Trump halfway: if they strike us and we cannot respond, that is neither honest nor fair. But if that is what you need, and you cannot restrain Putin, then give us interceptor missiles so I can protect our energy infrastructure. If you could not stop Putin, you helped Ukraine instead,” he stated.
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Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system, highlighting the importance of additional air defense capabilities as Kyiv seeks to protect critical infrastructure.
On October 14, Russian forces struck all three of Kyiv’s combined heat and power plants during a large-scale missile attack that also targeted key energy facilities in Kharkiv and the surrounding region, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi.
Koretskyi said Russian ballistic missiles specifically targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and the Kharkiv region. Additional strikes hit critical facilities in the Kyiv region responsible for supplying electricity to the capital and central parts of Ukraine.
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At the same time, Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its air defenses have reportedly faced delays in the delivery of US-made interceptor missiles.
According to The Kyiv Independent on October 19, citing a senior Ukrainian official and two military officials familiar with the matter, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has yet to authorize a substantial shipment of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine.
The reported delay has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials that Washington may be withholding the weapons to exert political pressure on Kyiv, despite Ukraine’s continued reliance on Patriot systems to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
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