Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, openly defying pressure from US President Donald Trump to halt the campaign.
Speaking in London on Wednesday, Zelensky made clear that Kyiv would not abandon its strategy of targeting Russian energy infrastructure, a campaign that has disrupted Moscow's oil exports and refined fuel supplies. The remarks put him at odds with Washington, which has reportedly urged Ukraine to scale back the strikes.
The Ukrainian leader's position signals a widening gap between Kyiv and its most important military backer over how to prosecute the war. Trump has repeatedly called for de-escalation and has pressed for a negotiated end to the conflict, while Zelensky has argued that striking Russian refineries is a legitimate and effective means of reducing Moscow's capacity to fund and sustain its invasion.
Ukraine has carried out a series of long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian refining facilities over the past year, causing fires, temporary shutdowns and reduced output at several plants. The strikes have hit refineries deep inside Russia, some hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian border, and have become a central element of Kyiv's asymmetric warfare strategy.
Zelensky's comments in London came during a visit that included meetings with European leaders, as Ukraine seeks to shore up support amid uncertainty over the future of US military assistance. He has consistently argued that Ukraine's ability to strike Russian oil infrastructure directly affects the battlefield, by limiting fuel supplies to Russian forces and reducing export revenues that feed the Kremlin's war machine.
The United States has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, but Trump has been openly sceptical of continued unconditional support. His administration has pushed for a swift ceasefire and has warned against actions that could escalate the conflict or disrupt global energy markets.
Zelensky's defiance underscores the delicate balance Kyiv must strike between heeding its allies' concerns and pursuing what it sees as vital military objectives. Ukrainian officials have argued that Russian refineries are legitimate targets because they contribute directly to the war effort, and that halting the strikes would only give Moscow breathing space.
The strikes have also drawn attention to the role of US intelligence. Reports have suggested that Washington has at times provided information that helped Ukraine target Russian energy assets, though the extent of such cooperation remains unclear. The Trump administration's reported push to curb the campaign has raised questions about whether that support will continue.
For Ukraine, the refinery campaign is one of the few areas where it can inflict direct economic pain on Russia without risking large-scale ground offensives. The attacks have contributed to fluctuations in global oil prices and have forced Russia to adjust its refining and export operations.
Zelensky's statement in London is likely to be read in Moscow as a sign that Ukraine has no intention of easing military pressure, even as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes. It also puts European allies in a delicate position, as they balance support for Ukraine with concerns about energy market stability and escalation risks.
What happens next may depend on whether Washington chooses to condition further aid on Ukraine's willingness to limit the strikes. For now, Zelensky has made his position clear: Ukraine will continue to target Russian refineries, regardless of US objections.
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