US officials asked Zelensky to spare Russian oil refineries, NYT reports

Senior US officials Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and JD Vance have asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop striking Russian oil refineries, according to the New York Times. The requests were made over recent months, the newspaper reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions. President Donald Trump has previously expressed frustration with Zelensky's reluctance to pursue peace and halt attacks on Russian refineries. The report follows a US-Russia agreement on diesel supplies reached on October 9. Trump subsequently stated Ukraine needs a new leader to negotiate with Russia, while Russian officials reported Ukrainian attacks on refineries in Saratov and Ryazan regions on October 14.