'Give us Patriot missiles': Zelenskyy tells Trump, offers to halt Russia refinery strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that his nation would cease attacking Russian oil refineries if the United States provided it with powerful Patriot interceptor missiles, according to a conversation with Fox News. President Trump, who is grappling with high inflation in the US, has insisted that Ukraine stop targeting energy sites as part of the conflict.

Zelenskyy said he had multiple discussions with Trump and his team about the issue, emphasizing that Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including refineries, electricity, gas, and other critical systems, have compelled this stance. He proposed that if Washington delivered the Patriots for a month, Kyiv would halt its attacks on Russian refineries for the same duration.

The Patriot missiles are crucial for intercepting Russian drones and missiles. While the Trump administration approved the sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine on Friday, Zelenskyy indicated that the delivery process could span several years. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly warned about the depletion of their interceptor missile supplies.

Last week, Zelenskyy suggested that US and European allies could transfer their stored missiles, which would then be replenished by the recently authorized US purchase. The truce in eastern Kherson, the longest pause in the ongoing Ukraine war, concluded on Sunday when Russia declined an extension proposal from Ukraine. Negotiations mediated by the US between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to restart this month following a hiatus since February, when the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran.