President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered the resumption of strikes on Vladimir Putin’s oil refineries after accusing Donald Trump of “betrayal” amid a fresh wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Speaking to the Financial Times, the Ukrainian president said the suspension of US intelligence-sharing and the simultaneous reduction in Starlink satellite connectivity were “dangerous” for civilians.
“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelensky said defiantly.
His comments followed a major drone attack on Russia’s Ryazan region, where a fire broke out at an oil refinery. It was the first Ukrainian strike on an energy facility since Trump announced a surprise “energy ceasefire” on Sunday.
Separately, a fuel terminal in Rostov-on-Don spectacularly burst back into flames after burning for five days.
Zelensky had suspended attacks on energy targets for three days in response to US demands. He said the strikes would now resume because Putin’s forces continued targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Elon Musk, whose SpaceX company operates the Starlink satellite network that has slowed in recent days, criticised Ukraine’s renewed attacks on Russian oil facilities in a post on X.
“And so the slaughter continues,” the tech billionaire wrote. “Time for Zelensky to go.”
Ukraine strikes a key Russian airbase in Voronezh region, home to Putin’s Su-34, Su-35 and Su-30SM fighter jets
Putin’s oil infrastructure was today on fire again as a fuel terminal spectacularly reignited after blazing for five days in Rostov-on-Don
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at 10 Downing Street in London, United Kingdom, on October 14
Zelensky also condemned Trump’s apparent admiration for Putin, accusing the US president of having an instinctive affinity for autocrats and wealthy figures.
In recent days, Trump has called for Zelensky to step down, signed a “treacherous” agreement with Putin to purchase Russian diesel and blamed the Ukrainian leader for soaring energy prices.
“He [Trump] speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people. Because for him people who can be leaders 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, it means they can be very strong,” Zelensky told the FT.
Washington has increased pressure on Kyiv to halt attacks against Russian refineries, arguing that a moratorium—combined with a US agreement to buy hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel—is needed to reduce fuel prices in America.
Although Ukraine observed the ceasefire, Zelensky said its forces were deprived of US early-warning alerts for incoming ballistic missiles. He also said Starlink communications had been slowed nationwide, disrupting frontline operations and medium-range attacks on Russian military positions.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian military officials were told by their US counterparts that “if you will not stop [the energy strikes], we will block intelligence”. The warning was later described to Kyiv as the result of a technical error.
“It was not a technical problem, it was the will,” Zelensky told the FT.
Trump earlier denied that Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Musk wrote on X late Wednesday that Starshield systems—the military-grade satellite network based on Starlink technology—were “owned and controlled by the US government”.
‘Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,’ he said, referring to Trump.
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The breakdown in relations between Kyiv and Washington comes as American officials have proposed that European countries unfreeze some Russian sovereign assets immobilised after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The assets would be transferred to a vehicle overseen by Washington in an attempt to revive peace talks.
European delegates rebuffed the plan, which was pitched by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the FT said.
Tension between Ukraine and its most important security partner has spiralled to its worst level since Trump and his senior aides gave Zelensky a public dressing-down in the Oval Office in February last year.
Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine’s relationship with the US as an ‘honest’ and ‘strategic’ partner was pivotal in the fight against Moscow, comparing it to Kyiv’s relationship with Britain.
‘Russia can fight… all of us but only when we are not together,’ Zelensky said.
He insisted it was not up to him to mend relations with the White House, saying: ‘We didn’t destroy any relationship.’
Asked whether Kyiv would halt energy strikes even if Moscow continued, as a way of reducing tension with the White House, he said he could only agree if in return he was given more US-made Patriot interceptors.
That was the ‘minimum’ that he asked for, he said, adding that when he requested more air defences the American response was to weaken Starlink’s service.
Zelensky added that halting energy strikes also risked only encouraging the US and Russia to pursue more deals, potentially providing more money for Putin’s war coffers.
‘The question will be when will the next deal be? Maybe it will be gas. Definitely it will be gas,’ the Ukrainian leader said.
‘Business is interesting between the United States and Russia,’ he noted. ‘I think that they [America] want to have energy projects and… [that] of course for them is difficult to have when there is war in Europe.’
The ‘energy ceasefire’ was announced just days after Trump declared a deal to import nearly two million tonnes of Russian diesel over the next few months.
He is under pressure to reduce fuel prices as the US heads towards midterm elections next month, which are predicted to be a bloodbath for his Republican Party.
Zelensky suggested Trump could face a public backlash following his actions, however.
‘This politically is not simple [in America], because everybody will want to ask how it can be when some people are surviving, fighting, dying – and you make… business with the guys with such aggression,’ he said.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Zelensky agreed he felt ‘betrayed’ by Trump’s actions over the past few days, and warned the president: ‘This is not the right side of history.’
Zelensky was in central London after a day of discussions with King Charles, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and defence officials.
On Thursday he is addressing EU leaders in Brussels to lobby for more robust sanctions against Moscow and a faster release of EU funds to assist Ukraine’s war effort.
He said fighting without Washington would be ‘very difficult’ and conceded Europe would be stronger if truly united.
But a succession of elections in Europe over the next 12 months, with possible gains for pro-Kremlin parties, could bring ‘a lot of challenges’ for Kyiv, he admitted.
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