Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Kyiv will no longer suspend attacks on Russian oil refineries after accusing Moscow of violating a proposed energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.
The dispute comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over military support, restrictions on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service and the Trump administration’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports.
Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure. However, Ukraine suspended its refinery strikes while Russian forces continued launching attacks on Ukrainian territory, according to the report.
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“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelensky told the Financial Times, following Russian strikes on power stations that reportedly left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity.
The Ukrainian president’s position marks another setback in relations with Trump, whose public statements on the proposed ceasefire have focused heavily on stopping Ukraine’s attacks against Russian refineries.
Zelensky has also expressed frustration over restrictions affecting Ukraine’s military use of Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The service has played an important role in Ukrainian government communications and military operations during the war with Russia. Reports of disruptions involving military-grade terminals mounted on fast-moving objects have raised concerns about their impact on Ukrainian drone operations.
Zelensky rejected the suggestion that the disruption was merely a technical issue, saying, “It was not a technical problem, it was the will.”
Musk, however, said restrictions on Starshield systems were controlled by the US government and that decisions concerning speed and usage rested with the US military and the president.
He also maintained that Starlink was a commercial service intended for civilian and defensive activities rather than offensive military operations.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Zelensky said he felt betrayed by the developments and warned that the disruption could put lives at risk.
A Ukrainian military technology adviser also told The Guardian that several combat missions had failed on Tuesday evening following the shutdown. Meanwhile, a US official told Axios that the Trump administration was not involved in the Starlink restrictions.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticised Musk over the restrictions, accusing the billionaire of playing politics with his technology.
Poland has said it pays for Ukraine’s Starlink subscription, which has supported communications and drone operations during the conflict.
The disagreement has raised further concerns among Ukraine’s allies about the country’s continued dependence on technology and military support linked to the United States.
The tensions have also intensified following Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian energy exports and allow global diesel shipments, including a reported US purchase of 300,000 tonnes of the fuel.
The move drew criticism from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who stressed that Russia was responsible for starting the war.
“Russia has started this war. We should not forget this,” Kallas said.
With Russia continuing its attacks and Washington’s approach to the conflict drawing criticism from Kyiv and European officials, the latest developments threaten to deepen divisions among Ukraine and its Western partners.
Zelensky’s decision to abandon the proposed pause in attacks on Russian refineries could further complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire as the war continues.
Source: The Independent
