Ukraine strikes refinery, ends Trump truce

Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region on Thursday after President Volodymyr Zelensky declared Kyiv was abandoning a ceasefire on energy sites announced by US President Donald Trump.

The refinery's strategic importance

The Ryazan refinery is owned by state oil major Rosneft and accounts for nearly five percent of Russia's refinery throughput, helping supply the capital.

Trump's ceasefire and its collapse

Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on energy sites. Kyiv suspended attacks on Russian refineries, which Trump blamed for raising diesel prices on global markets.

Russia broke the ceasefire

In the days after Trump's announcement, Russia rained down missile and drone strikes, including on energy targets such as power stations, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people.

Zelensky's patience runs out

In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine's patience had run out. He told the newspaper: the block on attacking refineries is out. We're done.

“The block (on attacking refineries) is out. We're done.”

Zelensky criticises Trump's approach

Zelensky criticised what he saw as Trump's willingness to strike deals with Russia and apparent admiration for Putin. He said Trump openly respects leaders who wield power for decades.

“He (Trump) speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people.”

Starlink restrictions hamper Ukraine

Zelensky said changes to SpaceX's military Starlink receptors this week, which curbed Ukraine's ability to pilot drones, were a policy decision, not a technical problem.

Drone speed restrictions limit Ukraine

Military-grade Starlink receptors stopped working in Ukraine when mounted on fast-moving objects. A defence ministry source said receptors now work only at speeds up to one hundred miles per hour, too slow for mid-range attack…

Kyiv-Washington rift deepens

By walking away from Trump's demand and openly criticising the US leader, Zelensky risks deepening the biggest rift between Kyiv and Washington since Russia's February two thousand twenty-two invasion.

Trump faces pressure on fuel prices

Trump is under pressure to lower fuel prices, with his Republicans facing midterm elections in less than three weeks. Diesel prices have reached record highs since he launched a war against Iran in February.