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Ukraine Will Stop Hitting Russian Oil Only if Putin Ends Energy Strikes, Zelenskyy Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
As Washington pushes Kyiv to end its campaign against Russia’s oil industry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made clear that any pause in refinery strikes must come with a price for Moscow—a reciprocal end to attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries—but only if Russian leader Vladimir Putin stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 11, rejecting any unilateral suspension of attacks amid growing pressure from US President Donald Trump.
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According to Zelenskyy’s official statement on October 11, Kyiv is prepared to consider a reciprocal halt to energy-related strikes, provided Moscow ends its attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure and both sides receive credible guarantees.
“Ukraine will be ready to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia stops attacking our energy infrastructure. Any de-escalation measures must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees,” Zelenskyy said.
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The Ukrainian president emphasized that Moscow could end attacks on energy facilities immediately but that Putin has shown no willingness to do so.
The proposal follows another week of large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, Russian forces launched approximately 1,450 guided aerial bombs, 75 missiles of various types, and more than 1,640 attack drones over the past seven days. He said approximately 60% of the drones were jet-powered.
The strikes included an attack on Zaporizhzhia that killed 23 people, including four children, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Russian forces also targeted a medical facility in Kharkiv and struck a five-story residential building in Sloviansk, destroying an entire section of the structure and potentially leaving civilians trapped beneath the rubble.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was continuing discussions with European leaders to secure additional military assistance, particularly air defense systems and ammunition for combat aircraft.
His latest proposal comes amid mounting tensions between Kyiv and Washington over Ukraine’s campaign against Russian oil infrastructure.
On October 9, Trump announced an agreement with Putin to supply Russian diesel fuel to American and international markets, despite existing US sanctions targeting Moscow’s energy revenues.
Trump decided to pursue the diesel agreement after Zelenskyy refused Washington’s demand to unilaterally suspend Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Trump subsequently criticized Zelenskyy over his willingness to negotiate, while Ukrainian officials maintained that attacks on Russian oil facilities would continue unless Moscow agreed to stop targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy has also warned that easing sanctions on Russia without a credible and lasting de-escalation agreement could provide Moscow with additional billions of dollars to finance its war against Ukraine.
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-80134f2dc17b4a887d01513a1c7bc929.png "Illustration of Russian military infrastructure targeted by Ukrainian strikes in temporarily occupied eastern Ukraine. (Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine)")
