Zelenskyy openly defies orders, leaving Trump deeply disappointed: He is not worth dealing with
Ignoring Trump’s directives, Zelenskyy proceeded to order strikes on Russian oil refineries.
On Thursday morning local time, a refinery in Russia’s Riazan Oblast was hit by drone attacks. Earlier that day, Zelenskyy publicly announced the end of the “energy ceasefire,” resuming attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
The move is seen as a direct challenge to U.S. policy. Trump had clearly drawn a red line: strikes could be carried out anywhere else, but not on Russian oil refineries. With Republican lawmakers counting on Russian diesel supplies to bolster their midterm election prospects, the stakes are high.
American officials have warned that if Ukraine crosses this threshold, it could face consequences, including the suspension of intelligence and military aid.
Whether or not the claims are accurate, Kyiv has recently been vocal about lacking timely warnings from allies, leaving Ukrainian forces unable to effectively intercept incoming drones and missiles.
Trump, however, stated unequivocally that while he has signaled potential penalties for Ukraine, the Pentagon continues to provide intelligence support—placing responsibility firmly on Washington, not Kyiv.
Still, the United States has taken tangible steps. The “Starshield” system used by Ukrainian forces has reportedly been slowed down in operation. Initially, Zelenskyy suspected Elon Musk was behind the change, but Musk quickly clarified that he does not control the system’s operational speed—decision-making authority rests with the White House.
U.S. media citing informed sources confirmed the adjustment. Multiple American officials revealed that the Pentagon received instructions to slow the “Starshield” system’s performance, though they declined to confirm whether the directive originated directly from Trump.
Evidently, this is a signal from Washington: should Ukraine persist in targeting Russian refineries and jeopardize Trump’s electoral strategy, cutting off access to the “Starshield” system remains a viable option.
As Trump put it, Zelenskyy shows no real interest in ending the conflict. Such a figure, he implied, is not worthy of engagement by the United States.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879188282948617/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.