Zelenskyy defies Trump's calls to halt Russian oil refinery strikes

Key Points:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects calls from the Trump administration to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, emphasizing that Ukraine’s response must be painful to Russian military targets amid ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
• Zelenskyy disclosed he had multiple discussions with Trump and his team about targeting refineries, stating Ukraine would consider stopping attacks if Russia ceased targeting Ukraine’s energy systems.
• Zelenskyy indicated that increased delivery of U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors could encourage Ukraine to hold off on further refinery attacks, framing this as a transparent strategic discussion between partners.
• Ahead of planned peace talks in the UAE, Zelenskyy urged Trump to advocate for a targeted ceasefire on energy facilities to help stabilize global energy prices and ease the conflict’s impact.
• Zelenskyy praised Melania Trump’s role in brokering a humanitarian truce allowing civilians to evacuate from Russian-controlled Oleshky, calling it a significant and helpful step in the conflict.