Zelensky offers to halt strikes on Russian refineries in exchange for Patriot missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Bloomberg in an interview on October 18 that he had offered to stop striking Russian oil refineries if the United States supplied additional missiles for Patriot air-defence systems, Kyiv Post reported.

Diesel for Patriots

Zelensky said the proposal came in response to US President Donald Trump's push for Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian refineries to help curb high diesel prices. "My latest model was: We don't target Russian diesel, you give us missiles for Patriot systems to protect our facilities," he said. He suggested, however, that Washington wanted the strikes to stop without agreeing to provide the extra interceptors.

Pressure and the midterms

"I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate," Zelensky told Bloomberg. He said this included deliberately slowing the Starlink internet speeds used by Ukrainian forces and delaying deliveries of Patriot interceptors needed to protect cities from Russian ballistic missiles. He stopped short of saying Washington had explicitly adopted a policy of forcing Ukraine to surrender. He also linked the pressure to the US midterm elections on November 3, saying: "Now, we have dangerous days ahead of the elections."

According to Kyiv Post, Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv early on Monday, killing a 21-year-old woman and injuring eight people. Interfax-Ukraine quoted Zelensky as saying Russia fired 16 ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight into October 19.

Washington's response

Zelensky spoke with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sunday and said Ukraine was ready to work "constructively" and "honestly". Trump, however, accused Zelensky on Truth Social of not wanting to end the war.

Sources: Bloomberg (via Kyiv Post), Interfax-Ukraine