The White House’s unilateral effort to negotiate an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has collapsed. The breakdown of the agreement, which neither nation had officially confirmed, was marked by Moscow launching a record swarm of drones against infrastructure in central Ukraine and Kyiv resuming strikes on Russian oil refineries despite warnings from Donald Trump.
Moscow accused Ukraine of launching a strike against an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, the first such attack since Trump declared an “energy ceasefire” last week. Trump had demanded that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stop targeting Russian oil refineries, claiming these strikes were driving up global diesel prices. In response to the collapse, Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that the moratorium on attacking refineries was over, stating, “The block is out. We’re done.”
The conflict has also expanded to threaten commercial shipping. Two chemical tankers were set ablaze in Romanian territorial waters at the mouth of the Danube River after being struck by Russian drones. Romanian President Nicușor Dan confirmed that two Russian drones violated Romanian airspace and struck the vessels, leaving at least seven sailors missing. “The situation in the Black Sea is serious,” Dan said. “Commercial ships are being attacked and sunk. Seafarers killed, injured and missing, very close to the shores of Romania and Bulgaria. This is unacceptable and it has to stop.”
Zelenskyy also reported a successful Ukrainian strike on a Russian airfield in the Voronezh region, where a Neptune cruise missile damaged or destroyed six Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber jets. Zelenskyy noted that these aircraft were loaded with aerial bombs intended for new attacks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, in the Kirovohrad region of Ukraine, more than 360 Russian drones targeted critical infrastructure and residential homes, killing three people and injuring six, according to regional governor Andriy Raikovych.
Zelenskyy stated that Russia has attacked Ukraine with more than 850 Shahed drones while Ukraine’s defensive capabilities were being “artificially restricted” through limitations on Starlink and Starshield terminals. The Ukrainian president criticized a gap in US intelligence sharing as “dangerous,” noting that Ukraine had not received advance warnings of Russian missile strikes for several days. He also expressed frustration with the Trump administration, stating, “It is obvious that Russia deliberately chose to escalate its attacks after receiving sanctions relief and seeing attempts to pressure Ukraine.”
The feud between Zelenskyy and Trump has intensified, with the White House threatening to cut arms deliveries and intelligence sharing to force compliance. Zelenskyy, when asked if he felt betrayed by the loss of a strong partner, replied that he did. Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX produces the Starlink terminals, has also emerged as a critic of the Ukrainian leadership, stating in a social media post that it was “time for Zelensky to go.”
“Ukraine needs steady support, above all in defending our skies. We need HONESTY from our partners about this war: It is important that everyone in America stand not with the aggressor, but with our efforts to protect lives, end this war, and guarantee security,” he said.
Zelenskyy, when asked on Thursday by Piers Morgan whether he felt betrayed, said yes. “It’s a pity that we are losing, we are losing a strong partner,” he said.
