President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil infrastructure after maintaining a three-day pause at American request. The decision came as Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy facilities, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Zelensky told the Financial Times that the temporary halt had achieved no reciprocal restraint from Moscow, prompting him to end the restriction.
Tensions emerged between Kyiv and Washington over intelligence-sharing and Starlink satellite service access. The Ukrainian leader accused the US of withdrawing intelligence support to pressure him into halting refinery strikes. Ukrainian defense sources confirmed that some Starlink military functionality had been restored after initial restrictions, though operational details remained unclear. Zelensky stated that he would only continue restricting attacks on Russian oil infrastructure if the US supplied additional Patriot air defense missiles, citing shortages caused by commitments elsewhere.
On Thursday, the Kremlin claimed Ukraine attempted a large-scale attack on a refinery south of Moscow, saying its air defenses intercepted four missiles and numerous drones. The Russian defense ministry reported falling debris caused a fire at the site in Ryazan. Ukraine denied Russian claims of attacks on Wednesday. In a related incident, seven people were reported missing after a drone strike ignited a chemical tanker off Romania.
European leaders rallied behind Ukraine amid the diplomatic friction with Washington. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto warned that US restrictions on intelligence-sharing would constitute a strategic error, arguing that such support remains fundamental to Ukraine’s defense capabilities. NATO chief Mark Rutte met with Zelensky during a two-day European summit in Brussels, discussing implementation of an energy ceasefire and continued allied support.
Zelensky also met with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who announced accelerated delivery of lightweight multirole missiles to Kyiv. The Ukrainian president maintained a more assertive stance, stating that US President Trump harbored affinity for autocratic leaders and suggesting that responsibility for mending relations lay with Washington.
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