After two weeks of disputes with Washington, Volodymyr Zelensky spoke again about a truce — but now with a specific condition. Russia stops strikes on Ukrainian power plants, Ukraine does not attack Russian oil refineries. There is no talk of a unilateral cessation of strikes.
October 26, 2026 | Author: Anton Pshedynsky | NANews
The President of Ukraine stated this on October 25, 2026, in an interview with journalist Alla Mazur. The conversation turned out to be not so much about diplomatic hopes as about what Kyiv is ready to discuss with the USA and Russia, and what it does not intend to put on the negotiating table. Anton Pshedynsky for NANews compares these statements with the October conflict over American aid and explains why it is being watched in Israel.
Electricity in exchange for oil
“They do not hit our electricity” — this is how Zelensky formulated the condition for stopping Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refining (translated from Ukrainian). Refineries are plants that turn crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. Strikes on them complicate the supply of the Russian economy and army, while Russian attacks on power plants leave Ukrainian cities without light and heat.
This exchange Kyiv proposes against the backdrop of American pressure. As NANews reported in an article about three interviews with Zelensky, in mid-October the Ukrainian president publicly argued with Washington’s decisions affecting Russian diesel, military intelligence, and satellite communications. The current proposal looks like an attempt to translate the dispute from the mode of ultimatums into a specific mutual agreement.
For now, this is just a proposal. There is no signed agreement and confirmed cessation of attacks.
Why Kyiv insists on 800,000 military personnel
Zelensky would like to maintain an army of 800,000 people after the war — if the state can finance it. Neither Moscow nor Washington, according to him, should set a limit on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces. He also rejected mandatory neutrality, i.e., refusal to participate in military alliances, and stated that territorial issues can only be discussed by state leaders.
Kyiv’s first choice is NATO membership, a military alliance with a collective defense mechanism. If joining is impossible, Ukraine is exploring bilateral commitments with the USA and participation in the “Coalition of the Willing” — a group of states discussing support for Ukraine’s post-war security. But such options do not yet mean that American or European troops are obliged to engage in combat in the event of a new attack.
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For Israelis, the difference is significant. Israel is not part of NATO, relies on the IDF, reservists, and its own intelligence, although it heavily depends on military cooperation with the USA. Ukraine’s task is different, but the dispute is very similar in essence: what remains of external promises if the country cannot independently ensure its defense?
Starlink returned, but the question of trust remains
After negotiations with Americans in Oslo, the capital of Norway, the speed of Starlink and Starshield, as Zelensky claims, returned to the previous level. Starlink is satellite internet communication, Starshield is specialized solutions for government and military tasks. For Ukrainian units, this is not a convenience, but one of the elements of management and data transmission. There is no independent technical confirmation of the restoration of all limited capabilities in the published interview.
Zelensky did not call disagreements with Trump a personal quarrel: according to him, he had to react publicly due to questions about intelligence data, air defense missiles, and communications. At the same time, he still considers the USA a partner. He is worried about something else — the possibility of concessions to Moscow, including the easing of sanctions, even before Russia stops the war. The assumption of unknown agreements between Washington and Moscow, unknown to Kyiv, the president directly designated as an assumption, not as an established fact.
Negotiations in November and people in Oleshky
In November, Zelensky expects talks between representatives of Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. Discussions may include stopping strikes on energy and in the Black Sea, transporting Ukrainian grain, and exchanging prisoners. He hopes that the meeting will bring the leaders’ negotiations closer, but there are no dates for signing any peace document.
There is also an urgent humanitarian issue. According to the president, the American side proposed to stop the fire near Oleshky — an occupied city near Kherson, on the left bank of the Dnipro — for several days from October 27. The pause is needed for humanitarian missions and the evacuation of civilians. Zelensky fears that Russian military will clear mined roads only in the direction of Russia. He did not provide confirmation that such a plan is already being implemented.
The European question comes down to money. For 2027, Zelensky named a need for €155 billion (about 541 billion shekels). Of these, €45 billion (157 billion shekels), according to him, have been allocated but not yet received; separately, €70 billion (244 billion shekels) still need to be found. The interview did not contain a detailed reconciliation of these parts with the total amount. The fate of frozen Russian assets in the West — funds whose access is restricted by sanctions — is also being discussed.
In Israel, they know well the difference between stopping shelling and eliminating the threat. But Zelensky is now posing an even more practical question: who will pay for Ukraine’s security and what actions will partners take to confirm their promises? The first test will not be a new statement about peace, but whether Russia agrees to stop strikes on the energy system.