Zelensky offers 30-day halt to strikes on Russian refineries in exchange for US Patriot interceptors, says 'political decision' slowing support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday 19 October that Ukraine could stop striking Russian oil refineries for 30 days if the United States helped protect Ukrainian airspace over the same period with Patriot interceptor missiles. He made the offer in an online meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the US Senate and House of Representatives, his office said, according to Ukrinform.

“That would be fair. I’m sure. But unfortunately, we have not heard any willingness to help with this option either,” Mr Zelensky said, Ukrinform reported. He credited members of Congress with raising the idea. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected an earlier proposal under which Russia would stop attacking Ukraine’s power grid and Ukraine would stop striking Russian refineries, LIGA.net and Ukrinform reported.

In a video posted on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said the Pentagon was delaying the delivery of missiles that partners had already paid for through NATO’s PURL programme, and that to his knowledge one package was waiting for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature, Reuters reported. “All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down support for us,” he said. He also said Starlink and Starshield terminals stop working at speeds of 130 to 161 km/h in parts of the front, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

US officials have denied Ukraine’s allegations, and the Pentagon did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday there had been “no pause” in intelligence sharing.

Mr Zelensky said he hoped a Ukrainian delegation would meet US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Norway in the coming days, Reuters reported. Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters the envoys were set to travel there this week; they said the schedule was tentative. The White House did not immediately comment, Reuters said.

Background

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have been strained in recent days over Starlink limits, Patriot deliveries and missile warnings, Reuters reported. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that “maybe it’s time” for someone other than Mr Zelensky to negotiate for Ukraine. For Mr Zelensky’s earlier interview, see our report on his Bloomberg comments; for Mr Trump’s remarks, see this report.