Zelenskiy: Allies sent Ukraine 'signals' about reducing attacks on Russian oil

(Patria) - Some of Ukraine's allies have sent Kyiv "signals" about the possibility of reducing Ukrainian long-range strikes on the Russian oil sector, as global energy prices have risen, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday, Reuters reported.
Speaking to reporters via WhatsApp, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready to retaliate if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine's energy system and that Kyiv was open to an Easter truce.

"Recently, after such a severe global energy crisis, we have indeed received signals from some of our partners about how to reduce our responses in the oil sector and the energy sector of the Russian Federation," Zelenskiy said at a WhatsApp briefing with reporters.

A source familiar with the situation said that US officials conveyed this message to the Ukrainians as part of their regular discussions, adding that the initial "signals" appeared to come from Moscow.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has reduced international supplies of oil, gas, and refined products, causing a sharp rise in prices, the worst energy supply disruption in history. Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have already put it in a struggle for supplies.

Fresh from a four-day visit to the Middle East, Zelenskiy stated that he had reached an agreement with some countries in the region to provide energy support to Ukraine.

Zelenskiy said over the weekend, during his Middle East tour, that he had reached an agreement on diesel supplies to Ukraine during the year, without providing further details. Diesel is crucial for the functioning of the Ukrainian armed forces and the country's agricultural sector, the backbone of the economy.

During his visit, Ukraine signed framework cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and he said another was in preparation with the United Arab Emirates.

In talks with Middle Eastern leaders, Zelenskiy raised the issue of air defense missile supplies, he said, without specifying whether any agreements were reached. Due to the war in Iran, Ukraine's international partners are currently "primarily" sending their anti-ballistic missile systems to the Middle East, and Ukraine is sometimes forgotten, he said.