Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has stated that strikes on Russian oil refineries have no direct impact on global energy markets and emphasized the urgent need for air defenses.
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy shared these views during a national telethon "Edyny Novyny," according to Ukrinform.
Addressing the Call for Restraint
"In our country, due to the lack of Patriot batteries, the list of civilian casualties is growing. Does nobody care? I have great love and respect for all our partners, but when such logic is employed, I must ask: because of attacks on our energy system and the lack of Patriots, the number of people living without electricity is increasing. We need to think about our own interests," Kuleba remarked.
Kuleba explained that Ukraine is prepared to accept systems on lease or positioned near the borders of allied nations to safeguard the neighboring area. He noted that transferring these systems could be a matter of weeks if partner countries agreed.
"With all due respect and gratitude, but do you believe that the US Army does not have a spare Patriot battery that it could transfer to Ukraine?" Kuleba questioned, showing frustration.
Addressing requests from international partners to avoid targeting Russian refineries, Kuleba recalled that Russia initiated the missile-drone war and denied any link between these attacks and potential global oil price fluctuations.
Conditions and Compromises
"If partners propose: 'We'll give you seven Patriot batteries tomorrow but ask you not to do certain things,' that's a discussion worth having. But if there are no batteries and you're still asking us not to act, what's there to discuss? Everyone must survive the best they can," Kuleba asserted.
As reported by Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced that international partners should back Ukraine's retaliatory strikes on Russian infrastructure.
Previously, the U.S. Defense Secretary pointed out that Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries might impact global energy markets, advising a focus on military targets instead.
