Volodymyr Zelensky granted an interview to Reuters, expressing Ukraine’s intention to intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to the latest wave of Russian airstrikes targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. He also launched a fresh broadside against Vladimir Putin, arguing that any attempt to negotiate with him amounts to nothing more than a waste of time.
Zelensky: “America is a hundred times more powerful than Russia”
“I believe the United States genuinely wants to stop Russia’s war. I trust them. At the same time, I understand how difficult it is to stop someone who is powerful and refuses to stop. That is why compromises with Russia are being pursued. However, I think we are wasting time if we try to play the game of Russian compromises. Because if Putin senses that you are willing to support something, he will push a different idea, raise new issues, and set new conditions. New government — new conditions. Change of leaders in Europe? New conditions. US policy? President Trump appeared — very powerful — and new conditions emerged. He tries to be very polite. Now, the United States faces a challenge in the Middle East: negotiations with Iran. You will see Russia setting new conditions. President Trump wants to score a win before the midterm elections. But Putin will do everything in his power to strengthen the Iranians and make the whole situation non-negotiable,” he said, adding:
“The same applies to Russia’s war against Ukraine. If Putin sees that President Trump needs a win, he will decide what he concedes and what he does not. And that is exactly the problem: Putin has started to believe that he is the one who calls the shots. But America is a hundred times more powerful than Russia. Without question. They just need to remember that.“
“We will strike the refineries first”
The Ukrainian president made clear that Kyiv intends to respond to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure with corresponding strikes against Russia’s own energy industry. He placed oil refineries at the top of the target list, arguing that their revenues directly fund Russia’s war effort.
“With their attacks on our energy, we must respond against their energy. First and foremost, the refineries — whatever gives them the money to wage this war,” he said. He stressed, however, that Ukraine has no intention of mirroring Russian tactics by indiscriminately striking civilian targets.
“Russia will strike Ukrainian infrastructure again”
The Ukrainian president stated that Kyiv’s intelligence services have obtained documents which, according to him, show that Vladimir Putin has approved a “new doctrine” of attacks significantly broadening the range of targets ahead of the coming winter.
According to Zelensky, the aim of this new strategy is to ramp up pressure on residents of Kyiv and other major cities, forcing them to flee. “We saw documents and we know they are being permitted to strike infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools, and hospitals — to pressure people into leaving the capital and other cities,” Zelensky stated.
“Operation ‘Vivaldi’ is very successful”
Zelensky also commented on a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Donbas codenamed “Vivaldi,” claiming that Ukrainian forces have recaptured approximately 140 square kilometers of territory.
“Operation ‘Vivaldi’ is very successful. It has not yet concluded. To date, approximately 125–140 square kilometers have been liberated. Significantly, the number of Russian killed and wounded has risen over the past two to three months. From the start of the year, they have sustained 30,000–32,000 killed.”
Pressure for the new missile: “Where is the FP-9?”
Zelensky’s remarks about Ukraine’s new missile systems also drew considerable attention. Ukraine announced this week the first operational use of the domestically produced FP-7 ballistic missile, while the company Fire Point is already developing the longer-range FP-9.
Zelensky revealed that he personally contacted the company to push for faster completion of the new missile. “I told them: ‘Where is my FP-9?’ We need the FP-9,” he said, adding that he expects it to be ready by autumn.
Fire Point has stated that the FP-9 is designed for a range of up to approximately 850 kilometers — a distance that would place Moscow within its theoretical strike radius.
The new threat of faster Shahed drones
Kyiv is simultaneously grappling with a growing challenge posed by a new generation of faster Russian Shahed drones equipped with jet engines. According to Zelensky, Ukraine’s F-16 and MiG fighter jets are currently forced to intercept approximately 60% of these drones, but stocks of 20mm ammunition are running low.
Ukraine is testing five new types of interceptor drones, with two of them achieving a success rate of around 30% so far, according to the Ukrainian president.
Kyiv also expects the first deliveries of small, low-cost anti-aircraft missiles — designed to counter the new Shahed variants — to arrive in the second half of October.
