Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that some of Ukraine's allies have urged him to consider scaling back attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure in response to the ongoing global fuel crisis. However, he emphasized that such actions would only cease if Russia stopped targeting Ukraine's energy facilities.
Zelensky delivered this message via a WhatsApp voice note to reporters, stating that the attacks on Russia's energy system are a form of reciprocal response to Russia's military actions against Ukraine. If Russia is ready not to strike Ukraine's energy, then we'll respond by not attacking theirs, he noted.
The exact identities of the countries making these requests remain unclear. Major consumers such as China and India continue to rely heavily on Russian oil, while the European Union remains dependent on Russian gas.
These statements come as Ukraine has recently launched significant strikes against Russian energy targets, including a precision strike on the key oil export terminal at Ust-Luga, which reportedly knocked out 60% of the port's capacity.
In the face of skyrocketing energy prices—fueled further by the war in Iran and geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—the U.S. has also started to ease sanctions on Russian oil, complicating the international response to the fuel crisis.
Despite these pressures, Zelensky assures that the Ukrainian army currently has sufficient fuel supplies, although he has sought additional resources during his recent tour of the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to help fortify Ukraine's defenses against ongoing Russian missile attacks.
The overarching message remains that any consideration of reducing attacks on Russian energy infrastructure hinges on the restoration of peace and the cessation of Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy sector.
