Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with NPR in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
Svet Jacqueline for NPR
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Svet Jacqueline for NPR
kyiv, Ukraine — The Trump administration has warned that it may cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine unless Ukrainian forces stop long-range drone strikes on oil refineries in Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NPR.
In an interview with NPR on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel would not lower fuel prices. He also refuted President Trump’s assertion over the weekend that Ukraine was responsible for rising diesel fuel prices, pointing out that it was instead because of the war in Iran.
“Most people in the world know why the prices of any type of energy, including diesel, have increased, why they have increased. Because of Hormuz. Yes. Because of the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” Zelenskyy said.
President Zelensky’s meeting with NPR comes as the full-scale Russian invasion approaches the fifth anniversary, at a time when the White House has renewed efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war. Tensions between Zelensky and President Trump have flared again, after the United States made a key concession to Moscow.
On Friday, Trump moved to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, catching Ukrainian officials off guard. Zelenskyy said in a statement that it was a “weak decision made by strong partners.”
Trump harshly criticized Zelensky, saying, “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” a leader capable of reaching a peace deal with Putin.
Then on Sunday, Trump announced on social media a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to end attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure – taking kyiv by surprise – even as Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continued.
Zelenskyy told NPR that he found out about Trump’s claim that there was an energy ceasefire deal “through social media like you” — that is, from Trump’s post on his Truth Social account.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about the announced energy truce on Sunday and told reporters that contacts were ongoing.
Zelenskyy told NPR that his country was striking Russian energy and logistics sites to weaken the Kremlin’s ability to wage war. Ukraine wants the war to end, he said, but it will not stop these strikes until Russia stops attacking Ukrainian energy sites.
Putin does not respond to diplomacy, the Ukrainian leader said, “he understands force.”
However, when asked Tuesday whether the United States had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, Trump told reporters: “We’re helping them and we’re sharing information, we want the war to end.”
Meanwhile, diesel fuel costs an average of $6.27 per gallon in the United States, more than 70% more than a year ago, when it cost just over $3.65 per gallon, according to AAA.
Zelensky said Trump’s decisions to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel would not influence “the price in the United States. I’m sure of that… because the volume is not enough.”
But he said the move would provide the Kremlin with more money to spend on its war.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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