Zelenskyy Offers One-Month Truce on Refinery Strikes for Patriot Missiles

One month. That is the specific duration Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed for a pause in strikes against Russian oil refineries. He made the offer during an interview on the American television network Fox News, speaking to a journalist about the resumption of long-range attacks.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is prepared to stop hitting refineries if the United States provides Patriot interceptor missiles. The condition is that Washington supplies enough ammunition for air defense systems for at least thirty days. He framed this as a direct response to American requests for a halt in strikes.

The president explained that he discussed the refinery attacks with President Donald Trump and his team during recent negotiations. Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed to respond to massive Russian attacks on its own energy infrastructure. He noted that Russia has targeted electricity, gas, and refineries, killing Ukrainian people in the process.

"We said that if you want us not to attack Russia's refineries, they have not to attack our energy system," Zelenskyy told Fox News. He presented this as the first option for a truce. The second option involves financial and material support. "And other alternative, give us Patriot missiles, we will find money, not just aid. Yes, just deliveries and we will pay for it," he said.

Zelenskyy specified the timeline for the missile supply. "For one month, if you need us not attack their refineries, for one month, give me Patriot [missiles] for one month," he stated. This offer came after Ukrainian officials said the US did not agree to a previous compromise proposal regarding refinery strikes on October 16.

In a separate negotiation in Oslo on October 20, Jared Kushner, a US special envoy, reiterated the demand to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities. That meeting included leaders from Norway, Finland, and Ukraine. Zelenskyy addressed potential concerns that his requests might be seen as pressure. He said he is not afraid to share the truth with partners. "America can't help Russia, the president can't help Putin," he said.