Putin downplays the damage to the Russian energy industry and accuses Ukraine of starting this exchange of attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged a resumption of Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian oil refineries, though he maintains that the damage to the industry remains minimal. Putin further accused Kyiv of initiating the escalation in targeting energy infrastructure, asserting that Moscow did not participate in any prior agreements to halt such operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled his intent to resume these strikes, expressing frustration with U.S. policy regarding the conflict. Despite reported pressure from the administration of Donald Trump to pause attacks on energy targets, Zelenskyy indicated that Kyiv will proceed with its military strategy, highlighting a growing divergence between Ukrainian objectives and the diplomatic expectations set by U.S. leadership.