Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised to respond to Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, as European leaders show support for Kyiv amid a dispute with Donald Trump over Ukraine’s strikes on oil refineries. Speaking to European security officials in Warsaw on Monday, the Ukrainian president said Ukraine would retaliate if attacks on its power grid continued: “If Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire this winter, we will respond.” On Sunday, Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Kyiv and Moscow, which Zelenskyy said neither side had agreed to. On Monday, Zelenskyy said he was “surprised” by the post, which appeared online while Kyiv was being attacked by Russian Shahed drones. Attendees at a Warsaw security summit on Monday watch Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address on a large screen. Photograph: Attila Husejnow/AP Russia then launched a “targeted attack” on a Kharkiv power station just hours later, as much of Kyiv was plunged into darkness. “It’s clear that Putin does not read Truth Social,” Zelenskyy joked. Ukraine wants to negotiate an energy ceasefire that would ease pressure on its electricity grid before winter. Russia has so far been unwilling to stop its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. European leaders have voiced support for Kyiv in the dispute, saying Russia was responsible for the continuing strikes on energy infrastructure in both countries. “We welcome the energy ceasefire when it holds,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at a meeting of European foreign ministers on Monday. “We haven’t yet seen that Russia will stick to it.” Ministers from the Baltic states criticised a US decision to lift sanctions on imports of Russian diesel, which had been blocked as part of punishment for Putin launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “This deal doesn’t help, neither the crisis of the oil products, nor the unity within the transatlantic community when it concerns Russia,” said Lithuania’s foreign minister, Kฤstutis Budrys. “And it is not the European way. Our way is to increase pressure because we already see how it works.” Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, using jet-powered drones and ballistic missiles ahead of the cold winter months, leading to blackouts and water shortages far earlier in the season than has been usual during the war. Trump’s proposal was for both sides to halt strikes on oil refineries, but Kallas said that deal favoured Russia, which has far more refineries. Trump has blamed the high price of diesel on Ukraine’s attacks, rather than the global shock to energy markets from the war in Iran and the subsequent closure of the strait of Hormuz. The fast-moving row between Washington and Kyiv began on Friday when Trump announced he was lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports. He said the move would reduce global and domestic fuel prices before next month’s US midterm elections. A furious Zelenskyy called the decision “weak” and said it would generate “billions” in extra revenue for Putin, enabling him to wage war “even more intensely”. An equally irate Trump said Zelenskyy should “damn well stop” hitting Russian refineries. Ukraine needed a “new leader”, he said on Saturday. Responding to Trump, Zelenskyy said it was up to Ukrainians to choose “one or another leader”. He told ABC News he was willing to accept Trump’s demands and to organise elections, but only if Putin agreed to a “total” 60-day ceasefire.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Zelenskyys Promise to Strike Back Over Attacks on Ukraines Power Grid
1 What exactly did Zelenskyy promise
He said that if Russia keeps attacking Ukraines power grid Ukraine will strike back at targets inside Russia especially the energy sites and weapons facilities used to launch those attacks
2 Why is Russia targeting Ukraines power grid
To make life unbearable for civilians cutting heat water and electricity in winter and to pressure Ukraine into surrendering Its a strategy of attacking morale not just military targets
3 What does striking back actually mean
It means longrange drone and missile strikes on Russian territory aimed at oil refineries military airfields and energy infrastructure tied to the war effort
4 Has Ukraine already done this
Yes Ukraine has hit Russian oil refineries fuel depots and military sites multiple times with drones and missiles Zelenskyys statement was a warning that this will continue and expand
5 Is this a new policy
No Ukraine has struck inside Russia before Whats notable is Zelenskyy saying it openly and directly linking it to attacks on the power grid
6 Why doesnt Ukraine just defend its grid instead
It does both Air defense is the priority but Ukraine doesnt have enough interceptors to cover the whole country so hitting the launch sites and supply chain is a way to reduce attacks at the source
7 What weapons does Ukraine use for these strikes
Mostly domestically made longrange drones plus some missiles Western longrange weapons like ATACMS have also been used though with restrictions on targets inside Russia that have shifted over time
8 Can Ukraine really reach deep into Russia
Yes in some cases Ukrainian drones have hit targets over 1000 km away including refineries Range is improving as Ukraine builds its own weapons
9 Why are oil refineries a target
They fund the war Strikes on refineries cut Russias export revenue and can cause domestic fuel shortages which puts pressure on Moscow
10 What is a power grid in simple terms
Its the network of power plants transmission lines and substations that moves electricity from where its made to homes hospitals and factories Knock out key nodes and whole regions go dark
