Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Zelensky defies Trump, vows to continue strikes on Russian refineries
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has signalled Kyiv will disregard US demands to halt attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, escalating tensions over Washington's approach to the war.
LSN Malaysia ·
President Zelensky declared that Ukraine would no longer comply with directives from US President Donald Trump to cease targeting Russian oil refineries, marking a significant divergence between Kyiv and Washington over military strategy in the ongoing conflict.
The Ukrainian leader's statement reflects mounting friction over a reported US-Russia diesel agreement that Trump's administration has pursued as part of broader diplomatic efforts. Kyiv has viewed such arrangements with concern, fearing they could undermine its military capabilities and strengthen Russia's economic position during the war.
Ukraine has long relied on strikes against Russian energy infrastructure as a key component of its defence strategy, targeting refineries and fuel supplies to disrupt Moscow's war machine. The strikes represent one of the few asymmetric advantages available to Ukrainian forces in countering Russia's larger conventional military.
The disagreement underscores the delicate balance the Trump administration is attempting to maintain between supporting Ukraine and pursuing negotiations with Russia. It remains unclear whether Kyiv's defiance will prompt any policy shift from Washington or escalate existing tensions between the Ukrainian government and the incoming US administration.