In brief
President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Kyiv will restart airstrikes on Russian oil refineries after a brief truce imposed at the US’s request. He accuses Washington of withdrawing intelligence sharing and limiting Starlink services, claiming the restrictions aim to pressure Ukraine into surrendering offensive operations. The Kremlin denies the claim and reports a recent missile‑drone attack south of Moscow, claiming a fire was sparked by debris from intercepts. In London, Zelensky met with UK leaders, who pledged to accelerate missile deliveries, while European officials prepare to address the incident at a Brussels summit.
Ukraine’s president vowed that Kyiv will resume airstrikes on Russian oil refineries after a three‑day pause that the United States demanded, blaming Washington for cutting vital intelligence and satellite support. He told the Financial Times that Ukraine had been forced to restrain attacks for three days at Washington’s behest, while Russian forces continued to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure, citing a recent launch of a missile‑drone offensive near Ryazan that caused a fire on a refinery south of Moscow.
Zelensky further accused the U.S. of withdrawing real‑time intelligence sharing and deliberately restricting Starlink, the satellite‑based internet system the Ukrainian military relies on to guide drones and protect its skies. He claimed that intelligence cuts were delivered under the pretext that “if you will not stop the strikes, we will block intelligence.”
In London, Zelensky met Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who announced the United Kingdom would speed up delivery of lightweight multi‑role missiles. European leaders are set to discuss the matter at a summit in Brussels. Zelensky stated that Ukraine would halt strikes only if the U.S. supplied extra Patriot air‑defence missiles, citing shortages caused by the Iran war’s depletion of stockpiles.
Zelensky criticized a recent U.S.–Russian deal that released 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the global market, arguing that the agreement effectively funded Russia’s war machine. He said Trump’s move was aimed at lowering fuel prices before mid‑term elections, but exacerbating the cost crisis in the U.S. and harming public perception of the administration.
Regarding the Starlink slowdown, Elon Musk denied responsibility, suggesting the U.S. government decided the limits and attributing them to “will” rather than technical error. Ukrainian officials remain unsettled over the sudden speed restriction and have not been notified beforehand.
Overall, Zelensky’s statements signal a sharp defiance toward both Russian aggression and perceived U.S. withdrawal of critical support, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict.
