Ukraine hits two Russian refineries despite Trump’s demands – Moscow

Kiev is showing no intention of abiding by the US-proposed “energy ceasefire,” Russian Deputy PM Aleksandr Novak says Ukraine targeted two Russian oil refineries on Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak has said.

The facilities are in Russia’s Saratov and Ryazan regions, Novak said on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week forum.

He did not specify whether either refinery sustained damage.

“We can see that the Ukrainian side is making no moves towards an energy ceasefire,” Novak said, referring to a limited ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev proposed by US President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire.

Neither Moscow nor Kiev, however, has confirmed the truce, sending out mixed messages on the matter.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said the announcement “was news” for him, but expressed readiness to stop attacking Russian refineries should Moscow halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Read more Putin wants Ukraine deal more than Zelensky – Trump Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also declined to confirm the deal, stating that contacts were still ongoing.

Peskov also reiterated Moscow’s longstanding position that Russia seeks a long-term peace agreement rather than a temporary truce.

The US president has also accused Zelensky of seeking to “make problems” for the US and the whole world by ignoring demands to stop its attacks on Russian oil refineries.

“Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world.

And we told him, do whatever you want, but don’t hit the diesel fuel,” Trump said last week.

“And what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel.

He can do whatever he wants, but he can’t do that.