Zelensky Offers to Pause Strikes on Russian Refineries If US Supplies Patriot Missiles

In brief

• Zelensky said Ukraine would consider pausing strikes on Russian refineries if the US supplies Patriot interceptors.
• He offered a second option in which Russia would stop attacking Ukraine's energy system.
• Ukraine says it would pay for the interceptors itself and needs US approval for the sales.

Conditional offer to Washington

Zelensky said Kyiv is willing to discuss a temporary halt to attacks on Russian refineries if Washington supplies Ukraine with Patriot missiles for its air defence systems (Зеленский предложил США сделку насчет ударов по российским НПЗ – Charter 97) (Зеленський: Україна припинить удари НПЗ, якщо США передадуть місячний запас перехоплювачів – Європейська правда). He told Fox News that the request came from President Donald Trump, who has asked Ukraine to stop such strikes (Зяленскі: Украіна гатовая прыпыніць удары па расійскіх НПЗ, але ёсць умова – Nasza Niwa).

Ukraine's reasoning

Zelensky said he had held several talks on the issue with Trump and his team. Ukraine, he argued, cannot leave Russian attacks unanswered when they target its power grid, gas facilities and refineries, and when they kill civilians.

Two options on the table

Zelensky set out two options. In the first, Russia would stop hitting Ukraine's energy system, and Ukraine would in turn stop striking Russian refineries. In the second, the US would deliver Patriot interceptors, and Ukraine would pay for them.

He said Ukraine was not asking for free military aid. Kyiv would find the money itself, but it needs American approval for the sales. Zelensky added that he had asked for a supply of interceptors covering at least one month.

Strikes continue despite Trump's requests

Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian refineries despite Trump's requests to stop, according to the reporter who questioned Zelensky on Fox News. Zelensky said Kyiv would only pause them if Russia halted its own attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, or if Patriot missiles arrived.

Read also

• US clears $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, but deliveries may take years