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Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is defying the Trump administration’s calls for his armed forces to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, telling Fox News: “Our response must be painful.”
In an interview in kyiv, Zelensky acknowledged having discussions with the Trump administration about targeting oil facilities, attacks that President Donald Trump has blamed as partly responsible for high U.S. gas prices.
“We have had different conversations – different and several – with President Trump and with his team about the attacks on the refineries,” Zelenskyy said.
“We said if you want us not to attack Russian refineries, they should not attack our energy system.”
Trump asks Zelensky to stop doing ‘one thing’ during attacks on Russia
During an interview with Fox News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged President Donald Trump to pursue an energy ceasefire with Russia as Washington pressures kyiv to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. (Fox News)
Ukraine has reported near-daily Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, causing power outages just as temperatures plummet as winter approaches.
“That is why we must react. But our response must be painful for the Russian military,” Zelensky said. “If we don’t respond on an energy level, they will continue.”
Relations between the United States and Ukraine took another hit in October when Trump reached a deal to import millions of tons of Russian diesel into the United States.
ZELENSKYY ACCUSES PUTIN OF DEFYING Trump’s CEASEFIRE PUSH, SENDS POINTED MESSAGE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Zelensky warned President Donald Trump against providing aid to Russia while praising first lady Melania Trump’s role in securing a humanitarian evacuation from Russian-controlled territory. (Fox News)
Zelenskyy suggested that Ukraine could be encouraged to suspend further attacks on Russian oil facilities if the United States provided more American-made Patriot missile interceptors to protect Ukrainian skies. Asked by Fox News whether this could be seen as an attempt to influence Trump, Zelenskyy said: “I have no concerns when sharing the truth between partners.”
“Our countries are huge partners. American society (is a) big supporter.”
“And that’s why I have to share with (the) president the truth, the real situation: that America cannot help Russia. (The) president cannot help Putin.”
US to mediate upcoming Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi, says Witkoff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Fox News that Ukraine will continue targeting Russian oil refineries despite the Trump administration’s objections. (Pier Marco Tacca; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Ahead of planned peace talks in the United Arab Emirates, Zelensky urged Trump to launch a new push for a targeted ceasefire in which Russia and Ukraine would refrain from attacking energy facilities.
“If the American president thinks that this war has an influence on prices,” Zelenskyy said, “he can ask for an energy ceasefire at the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi: an energy ceasefire.”
Zelensky spoke to Fox News hours before hungry and exhausted residents left the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky and crossed into Ukrainian-controlled territory as part of a humanitarian truce brokered by first lady Melania Trump, the first of its kind in more than four years of war.
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Zelensky praised the first lady’s initiative, calling the evacuations a “huge result” and adding: “I don’t know how many such measures will be available to us, but if the first lady can do it… it’s very helpful. I’m very grateful to her.”
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