Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Fox News that Kyiv is ready to suspend strikes on Russian oil refineries, but only under a specific condition. According to him, this means either a mutual cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure or the supply of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine.

Kyiv's Condition: Reciprocity or Patriot

Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine cannot afford not to respond to Russian strikes on power generation, the gas sector, and oil refineries. “We said: we cannot not respond when Russia attacks our energy infrastructure, when it kills our people,” he stated. An alternative option, according to the president, is the provision of Patriot missiles: “We will find the funds — this is not just a request for help... We are ready to pay for them.” At the same time, he emphasized that the suspension of attacks would only last as long as Ukraine is supplied with missiles: “If you want us not to attack Russian refineries for a month, give us Patriots for a month.”

Negotiations with Washington

According to Zelenskyy, he held “several different” discussions on this issue with US President Donald Trump and his aides. Washington, the Ukrainian leader noted, is asking Kyiv to halt such attacks. Earlier, on October 11, Zelenskyy also stated in his Telegram channel that Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian refineries if Russia ceases strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, adding that any de-escalation steps must be mutual and backed by real guarantees.

The Two-Week Truce and Its End

Ukraine refrained from striking Russian refineries for two weeks at the request of the US presidential administration. However, Russia did not stop its attacks on civilian infrastructure, after which the Armed Forces of Ukraine resumed strikes on Friday. Over three days, according to RBC-Ukraine, three refineries were hit, disabling about 10% of Russia's oil refining capacity.

Which Refineries Were Hit

These include the Kstovo, Novokuybyshevsk, and Bashneft-Novoyl refineries. Their combined annual capacity is about 33 million tons of oil. On the morning of November 1, Russia's Samara Oblast was attacked by drones once again; the likely target was the Samara liquid product pumping station in the town of Prosvet, after which a fire broke out near the facility.

Context: October Strikes on Samara

Recall that in October, the Samara oil hub in Russia burned again following shelling. The station had already been hit on October 2. At the time, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed damage to eleven RVS-20000 tanks and three RVSPK-50000 tanks.