Accusing the US of cutting off intelligence and slowing down Starlink, Zelensky announced the resumption of attacks on Russian oil refineries

In an exclusive interview made public on Thursday (15th), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy angrily criticized the United States for withdrawing intelligence support and slowing down the Starlink satellite network service, and threatened to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries in response.

In an exclusive interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said that the ban on oil refineries "has been lifted" and Ukraine will no longer comply with it. He also criticized Washington's eagerness to strike business deals with Moscow and U.S. President Trump's admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky bluntly stated that Trump has an instinctive affinity for dictators and super-rich people. He has publicly and loudly stated that he likes and respects such people, because in his view, those leaders who can stay in power for 20, 30 or even 40 years must be very powerful.

Washington had pressured Kiev to halt attacks on Russian refineries. The United States claims that halting such attacks is important to lower domestic fuel prices in the United States, as is the recent diesel agreement between the United States and Moscow.

Zelensky pointed out that Ukraine suspended the attack as agreed, but in exchange it lost the ballistic missiles provided by the United States without warning. At the same time, the Starlink satellite communication service owned by the world's richest man Musk has slowed down in Ukraine globally. This not only hinders frontline operations, but also affects Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities against Russian military targets.

Zelensky revealed that U.S. military officials had conveyed a statement to the Ukrainian military that if Ukraine did not stop its attacks on energy facilities, the United States would cut off the supply of intelligence, although Washington later explained this as a "technical failure." But Zelensky bluntly stated that the problems with the Starlink system were "not a technical problem, but a matter of will."

Trump earlier denied that Washington had cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Musk posted on X on the evening of Wednesday (14th) that any restrictions on the speed or use of the Starshield system were decided by the US military and ultimately decided by US President Trump. StarShield is a military-grade satellite network based on Starlink technology.

When asked whether Ukraine would stop attacking Russian energy facilities in order to repair relations with the White House, Zelensky said that he could not agree unless the United States could provide more Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, which was his "minimum requirement."

Zelensky pointed out that when he asked for more air defense systems, the United States responded by restricting Starlink services. Zelensky added that the cessation of attacks on energy facilities would instead lead to more deals between the United States and Russia, thereby providing more funds for Putin's "war machine."