In brief
President Zelensky said Ukraine had paused strikes on Russian oil infrastructure but would restart them, citing U.S. pressure. Russia responded with an attack claim on an oil refinery in Ryazan. The dispute comes amid Russian drone attacks and questions over Starlink internet restrictions. International leaders debate an energy ceasefire, while Ukraine seeks more U.S. defense aid.
Zelensky Promises to Resume Attacks, Russia Blames Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement last week that Ukraine would lift the pause on strikes against Russian oil infrastructure has pushed tensions to a new high. The Ukrainian leader cited U.S. pressure over intelligence sharing as the reason for ending the temporary ceasefire.
Russia, however, claims that Ukrainian forces targeted an oil refinery north of Moscow’s Ryazan region. Moscow says four missiles and dozens of drones were intercepted, but the site caught fire.
The dispute is set against a backdrop of increasing Russian drone offensives, with over 8,000 drones launched across the country at the start of the year. Ukraine has asked the United States for more Patriot air‑defence missiles, while calling the Starlink satellite internet crucial for battle‑field communications.
European leaders, led by the U.K., are pushing for an "energy ceasefire" that would halt attacks on electricity and fuel infrastructure. Zelensky is angry at what he calls a "complete mistake" in U.S. policy, claiming the withdrawal of support is a strategic move against him.
International attention has focused on the fate of the Starlink restriction that was briefly imposed, with Ukrainian sources reporting the service is now restored, though details of restrictions on drone speed and connectivity remain unclear. A separate incident saw seven Ukrainians missing after a drone set a chemical tanker on fire off the coast of Romania.
As both sides keep fighting, the world watches whether a political compromise can be reached. The war remains at a stalemate, but with every visit from NATO, the U.S., and the U.K. to Kyiv, officials are still debating tangible steps for a ceasefire.
