Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv could agree to stop attacking Russia’s energy infrastructure only if it receives more U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles. Speaking to the Financial Times, he called that the "minimum."
"If we don’t attack because you asked, they will attack us. Then it would be fair to give us the missiles we need to defend ourselves," Zelensky said.
Refinery pause over
Zelensky said Ukraine had refrained from striking Russian refineries for three days at Washington’s request, while Russia kept hitting Ukraine’s energy system. "The block is out. We’re done," he said, warning that halting strikes could open the way to further deals between Washington and Moscow: "The question will be when will the next deal be. Maybe it will be gas."
According to Zelensky, Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones against energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast and Kharkiv overnight into Oct. 14, leaving about 600,000 people without power. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said all three of Kyiv’s combined heat and power plants were targeted.
An uncertain "energy ceasefire"
U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine on Oct. 11. Ukrainian officials said they had no prior notice, and the Kremlin said the scope of the truce had not been defined. On Oct. 14, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak accused Ukraine of attacking refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions.
Starlink: "Not a technical problem, it was deliberate"
Zelensky also addressed the slowdown of the Starlink terminals used by Ukraine’s military: "Starlink’s speed was reduced, yes. It was not a technical problem, it was deliberate. This time we could not use the system we rely on at the front for medium-range strikes."
In an interview with Piers Morgan released on Oct. 14, Zelensky called the restrictions a "big mistake" and warned that people would die if attacks continued and Starlink did not work. SpaceX owner Elon Musk said any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the U.S. president. Ukrainian officials said connectivity was partially restored on Oct. 14.
"Trump respects leaders who rule for decades"
Turning to U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelensky said: "Trump likes and respects people who can remain leaders for 20, 30, 40 years. He sees them as strong because they are able to hold on to power."
In his interview with Piers Morgan, Zelensky also admitted he felt betrayed by Trump’s deal with Russia and said Kyiv was losing a strong partner "not because of us," blaming advisers he said were pushing Trump to "the wrong side."
"It is painful that President Trump did not choose our side. He is not on the right side of history," Zelensky added.
He also stressed: "No one, including Trump, can choose the president of Ukraine. Only the Ukrainian people can."
Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said: "Putin is the Adolf Hitler of our time."
