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Zelensky Declares Trump's Energy Ceasefire Over, Resumes Strikes on Russian Refineries
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In brief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Financial Times on October 15, 2026, "The block is out. We're done," ending a three-day pause on Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries that US President Donald Trump had announced days earlier. Zelensky said he agreed to the pause at Washington's request but resumed attacks after Russia kept bombing Ukrainian energy facilities and after Kyiv says the US restricted Starlink speeds and intelligence sharing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 15, 2026, that Ukraine is resuming drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, declaring the US-brokered "energy ceasefire" over. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said: "The block is out. We're done," referring to the halt on Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure that President Donald Trump had announced days earlier, according to PBS NewsHour and NBC News.
Trump announced the energy ceasefire on Sunday, October 11, calling for both Russia and Ukraine to stop attacking each other's power and fuel infrastructure. Ukraine complied for roughly three days, Zelensky said, but Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy facilities, prompting Kyiv to abandon the pause, PBS NewsHour reported.
What Zelensky said about Trump and Putin
In a separate interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan on Wednesday evening, Zelensky said he felt "betrayed" by Trump's dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ceasefire announcement, and restrictions on Starlink service, NBC News reported.
Germany's Tagesspiegel, citing the Financial Times interview, quoted Zelensky asking "How can Trump be friends with him? I think that's a mistake," referring to Putin, and reported that Zelensky suggested Trump admires leaders who hold power for long periods.
Starlink and intelligence-sharing dispute
According to PBS NewsHour and NBC News, Zelensky said Ukrainian military officials were told by US counterparts that intelligence sharing would be blocked if Ukraine did not stop its energy strikes. Kyiv also said Starlink satellite-internet speeds, relied on for drone operations and early-warning systems, had been throttled; NBC News reported that Ukrainian diplomat Denys Sienik said speed "is critical for logistics and for intercepting... drones." NBC News said Starshield speeds were later restored "for the moment," without a stated reason for the earlier slowdown; the report noted Starshield is the military version of the Starlink service run by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Renewed strikes and Russian response
NBC News reported that Ukrainian drones struck a refinery in Russia's Ryazan region, starting a fire; regional governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the incident. Russia's Defense Ministry described it as an attempted massive drone attack, according to the same report.
Russia launched more than 850 drones at Ukraine overnight into October 15, according to NBC News.
Background: how the ceasefire came about
Trump's October 11 ceasefire announcement followed his own diplomatic contacts with Moscow, including an agreement to import Russian diesel aimed at lowering US fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections; a bipartisan group of US senators urged Trump to reverse the deal, warning it could give Russia a "financial lifeline," according to PBS NewsHour. Ukrainian and Russian strikes on each other's energy infrastructure have been a recurring feature of the war, with both sides accusing the other of targeting civilian power supplies.
- Trump announced an energy-infrastructure ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on October 11, 2026.
- Ukraine paused strikes on Russian refineries for about three days at Washington's request.
- Zelensky declared the pause over on October 15, telling the Financial Times "We're done."
- Ukraine's Kyiv says Russia kept striking Ukrainian energy facilities throughout the pause.
- Kyiv reported Starlink speed restrictions and a threat to cut intelligence sharing if strikes resumed.
- Ukrainian drones hit a refinery in Russia's Ryazan region after the pause ended.
Questions
- Why did Zelensky end the energy ceasefire with Russia?
- Zelensky said Ukraine paused strikes on Russian refineries for about three days at the US's request, but resumed them after Russia continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure and after Kyiv says Washington restricted Starlink speeds and threatened to cut intelligence sharing.
- What did Zelensky say about Trump's relationship with Putin?
- According to the Financial Times interview cited by Tagesspiegel, Zelensky asked how Trump could be friends with Putin, calling it "a mistake," and said Trump appeared to admire leaders who hold power for long periods.
- What is the Starlink dispute about?
- Ukrainian officials said Starlink/Starshield internet speeds used for drone operations and missile early-warning were throttled; NBC News reported the speeds were later restored without an explanation for the earlier slowdown, and noted Starshield is the military version of SpaceX's service.
- What did Russia say about Ukraine's resumed strikes?
- Russia's Defense Ministry described an attack on the Ryazan oil refinery as an attempted massive drone strike, according to NBC News.
- Did Russia and Ukraine actually agree to Trump's ceasefire beforehand?
- Trump announced the energy ceasefire on October 11; Ukraine says it complied for about three days, but Zelensky and Ukrainian officials say Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy facilities during that period, according to PBS NewsHour.
How the world is telling it
- GermanGerman outlet Tagesspiegel framed the story around Zelensky's direct criticism of Trump's personal closeness to Putin, highlighting his quote questioning how Trump could be "friends" with the Russian leader and describing it as a rebuke rather than purely a military announcement.
Sources
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