US President Donald Trump is annoyed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, Axios reported, citing an unnamed White House official. Washington is proposing an energy ceasefire involving a mutual halt to attacks on oil refineries, whilst Kyiv is demanding an end to Russian strikes on power stations and the electricity grid.
Briefly about the main points
- Axios quotes a White House official as saying that Trump is annoyed with Zelenskyy.
- The US is proposing a mutual agreement not to attack oil refineries.
- Ukraine is calling for an end to Russian attacks on power grids and power stations.
- Moscow has not confirmed its agreement to the proposed cessation of strikes.
- The Ukrainian authorities have reported a Russian strike on the Kharkiv Thermal Power Station No. 5.
The White House links the attacks on oil refineries to tensions between the presidents
A source speaking to Axios described Trump as «very angry» and stated that the US President considers Zelensky not grateful enough for American support. According to this official, Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries are doing more harm to Trump’s relationship with Zelenskyy than to Russia.
The day before, Trump publicly called on Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries. According to Reuters, he linked these attacks to the rise in diesel prices in the US. Zelenskyy rejected the suggestion that Ukraine was to blame for the rise in fuel prices, pointing to the impact of the war in the Middle East.
The administration official’s assessment of the consequences of the strikes for Russia does not constitute a definitive conclusion regarding their military or economic impact.
Kyiv is calling for symmetrical protection of its energy infrastructure
According to Axios, the US proposal calls for an initial mutual cessation of attacks on oil refineries. Ukraine insists that the agreement must include a halt to Russian attacks on Ukrainian power stations and the electricity grid.
Zelenskyy has stated his readiness to halt attacks on Russia’s energy sector, if Russia stops attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Kyiv is awaiting further details of the US initiative.
The terms of the agreement remain a point of contention: the US is focusing on oil refining, whilst Ukraine is focusing on protecting its electricity sector.
Trump’s statement did not stop reports of Russian attacks
Trump stated on Truth Social that the energy ceasefire takes effect immediately and that both sides had agreed to it. However, at the time of publication by Axios, Russia had not agreed to the proposed halt to strikes; Reuters also reported that there had been no reaction from Moscow.
That same evening, Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga briefed his German counterpart Johanna Wadefula on the Russian attack on Kharkiv CHPP-5. He described the attack as a breach of the ceasefire in the energy sector immediately after it was announced. Ukraine had supported a mutual cessation of hostilities; however, according to reports from the Ukrainian authorities, Russian attacks continued.
