Ukrainian forces launched coordinated strikes on Russian oil infrastructure Thursday, hitting two fuel depots in Stavropol and Tver, roughly 500 kilometers from the front line, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attacks came a day after his face-to-face meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey.
Zelensky posted on X that Ukrainian units also targeted a reserve fuel storage facility 800 kilometers from the front, an oil pumping station in Ufa nearly 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine's border, and a loading terminal in the Rostov region about 200 kilometers from the front. The broad scope of the operation underscores Kyiv's intent to degrade Russia's energy logistics and regain battlefield leverage ahead of any negotiations.
“An oil pumping station in Russia’s Ufa, nearly 1,500 kilometers from our border, also came under sanctions,” Zelensky wrote, using the term “sanctions” to describe military strikes. The Ukrainian leader has made clear that his primary objective is to secure a dominant position on the battlefield to strengthen Ukraine's hand in talks with the Kremlin.
Trump’s approval Wednesday for Ukraine to co-produce Patriot missile systems was another boost for Kyiv. The agreement allows joint manufacturing of key air-defense weapons, though experts caution that full production remains one to three years away. Still, the move marks a shift from the tense Oval Office confrontation between the two leaders last February.
Zelensky expressed gratitude for the meeting, writing on X that Trump “placed strong emphasis on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense to better protect people’s lives.” He added that the two discussed “ideas that could strengthen our positions and bring peace closer,” and pledged that his team would follow up promptly on all matters discussed.
The Kremlin acknowledged the U.S. role but called it “ambivalent.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that unlike European allies, Washington has shown “a desire to facilitate a move toward a peace process.” He added, “They may be misguided or mistaken at times, but we see that desire as sincere. We welcome it.” Peskov also expressed hope that after resolving tensions with Iran, U.S. efforts on Ukraine would resume.
Trump, who vowed during his campaign to end the Russia-Ukraine war “overnight,” has not delivered on that promise. The conflict has now stretched beyond four years, with multiple U.S. and European mediation attempts failing to produce a ceasefire. The Kremlin continues to press for territorial gains, while Zelensky insists any concessions must be approved by Ukrainian citizens.
The debate over sovereignty and land ownership remains the central obstacle to peace. As the strikes demonstrate, Ukraine is betting that hitting Russia’s energy infrastructure can force Moscow to the table on more favorable terms.
For context on Trump's broader foreign policy approach, see our analysis of his Greenland fixation and the fallout from his snub of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meanwhile, the administration's new tariff strategy continues to reshape trade dynamics.
