In a Bloomberg interview on Sunday, Zelenskyy offered to halt attacks on Russian refineries in exchange for American air defense interceptors, saying, "We don't target Russian diesel, you give us missiles for Patriot systems to protect our facilities." Instead, he said Washington is demanding an unconditional halt and threatening to cut off support if strikes continue. Zelenskyy said "steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate," pointing to the deliberate slowing of Starlink internet speeds and delays in Patriot interceptor deliveries that have left Ukraine receiving 12 missiles a month, roughly a quarter of the rate under the Biden administration, despite Kyiv having already paid for the weapons through the PURL procurement program.
The exchange escalated a weeklong dispute that began when Trump lifted restrictions on Russian diesel exports through April 2027 and declared an energy ceasefire that Kyiv said Russia immediately violated with strikes on power plants in Kharkiv and Kyiv. Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged Trump on Sunday to accept Zelenskyy's offer to trade a halt on Russian petroleum strikes for US targeting assistance against Russian missile launches. Oil prices edged lower in early Asian trading Monday following Trump's sanctions waiver, with Brent crude falling 0.96% to $108.80 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate slipping 0.23% to $101.18.