Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that some of Ukraine's allies have urged him to scale back attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure as the world grapples with an ongoing fuel crisis. However, he firmly indicated that such attacks will only cease if Russia ends its assaults on Ukraine.
In a WhatsApp voice message shared with journalists, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy facilities were retaliatory measures. It's unclear which specific countries he referred to, as nations like China and India continue to rely heavily on Russian oil, while the European Union remains dependent on Russian gas.
His remarks come on the heels of several significant Ukrainian long-range strikes targeting Russian energy assets, including a crucial oil export terminal at the Ust-Luga port near St. Petersburg.
“We have received messages from some of our partners asking about how our responses against Russia's oil sector - the energy sector - can be reduced,” Zelensky noted. He reiterated, “If Russia is ready not to strike Ukraine's energy, then we'll respond by not attacking theirs.”
Recently, the United States has relaxed some sanctions imposed on Russian oil due to rising energy prices caused by the ongoing situation in Iran, adding complexity to the discussions surrounding energy warfare amidst wartime scenarios.
As of February, China and India were reported to be the largest buyers of Russian crude, accounting for 85% of its exports, while the European Union stood as the leading consumer of Russian gas and LNG imports.
The continued assaults from Russia have severely impacted Ukraine's energy capabilities, forcing it to rely on imports of fuel, mainly via neighboring countries such as Poland, Greece, Lithuania, and Turkey.
Zelensky pointed out that Ukraine had previously managed to fend off attempts to disrupt grain exports and is applying lessons learned to secure trade routes that might aid in countering current energy challenges.
With the stakes rising due to soaring global oil prices, Zelensky stated that while the Ukrainian army has sufficient fuel for now, efforts are ongoing to secure additional resources during diplomatic tours in the Gulf region.
