Ukraine must keep striking Russian refineries, says veteran Dykyi

Ukrainian war veteran and former Aidar battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi stated that Ukraine must under no circumstances agree to US President Donald Trump's demand to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. He made the remarks in an interview with Radio NV. Dykyi predicted that Trump will pressure Ukraine during his September 22 meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, blaming Ukrainian strikes for rising global fuel prices rather than his own military actions in Iran. He said the US may condition further aid on halting attacks on Russian hydrocarbon infrastructure, calling such strikes "the key to our victory." The meeting will occur on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with media expecting Trump to push for an "energy truce." Ukraine recently intensified attacks on Russia's energy sector, including a strike on the Moscow refinery. Trump has publicly urged Zelenskyy to stop such attacks, while Zelenskyy has offered to halt them if Russia stops striking Ukrainian critical infrastructure.