Zelensky vows to resume strikes on Russian oil facilities

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine pledged on Thursday to resume strikes on Russian oil facilities, after halting such attacks at the request of the United States. Zelensky stated that he had restricted attacks for three days while Russia continued targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. "We're done," he told the Financial Times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed claims that Kyiv had targeted refineries, stating that there was no significant damage. Zelensky accused the US of withdrawing intelligence-sharing to pressure Ukraine into ending the strikes, but Ukrainian defense sources later confirmed that some functionality on Starlink satellite services, part of Starshield, had resumed, though it remains unclear whether restrictions on drone flight speed have been fully lifted.

Meanwhile, seven people are missing after a drone attack set a chemical tanker on fire off Romania, with Moscow claiming to have hit two cargo ships with military cargo heading to Ukraine's Odesa port. Zelensky reported that over a dozen Ukrainian cities had been under Russian attack in the previous day, and he had previously expressed willingness to agree to an "energy ceasefire" proposed by US President Donald Trump, provided Russia also complied.

However, he accused Russia of ignoring the deal within hours of its announcement, with strikes leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power. The Kremlin never confirmed agreeing to the deal. Zelensky expressed his feelings of betrayal towards the US when questioned by Piers Morgan on Wednesday, following Washington's apparent withdrawal of key elements of its support.

European leaders have rallied around Ukraine, with Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto criticizing the US for restricting intelligence-sharing, stating it would be a "complete mistake" as it denies a country its means of defense.