Kyiv, Nov. 02 (SANA) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to suspend attacks on Russian oil refineries for one month if the United States supplies Kyiv with Patriot interceptor missiles during the same period, while calling on Moscow to stop targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
In an interview with U.S. broadcaster Fox News on Sunday, Nov. 01, Zelensky said he had held several discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump and his team about the issue.
“We told them that we cannot stand by while Russia attacks our energy facilities and kills our people, targeting our electricity, gas, refineries and other infrastructure,” Zelensky said.
“If they want us to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, they must also stop attacking our energy system,” he added.
Zelensky said another option would be for Washington to provide Ukraine with Patriot missiles, with the necessary funding secured, rather than limiting its support to military assistance.
Trump has called on Moscow and Kyiv to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.
Patriot systems are among Ukraine’s key weapons for intercepting Russian drones and missiles. On Friday, Oct. 30, the Trump administration approved a potential sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, according to the U.S. State Department. The proposed sale is estimated at $2.1 billion and is to be funded by Ukraine’s partners, including Canada, Germany and Norway, rather than the United States.
Zelensky has warned that deliveries could take several years, raising concerns over Ukraine’s ability to replenish its stocks in the near term. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly warned that their supplies of interceptor missiles are running low.
The Ukrainian president has proposed that the United States and its European allies provide missiles from their existing stockpiles, with those supplies to be replenished later through the newly approved sale.
kh/ R.K
