Zelensky Offers Refinery Strike Pause for Patriot Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to pause attacks on Russian oil refineries for one month if the United States provides Ukraine with Patriot missiles for the same period, saying Kyiv would pay for them. The proposal comes as Ukraine seeks air-defense ammunition and the United States has approved a $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors, though Zelensky has warned that delivery could take years. Zelensky made the offer in an interview on November 1, saying Ukraine would stop refinery strikes if Washington supplied the missiles for a month. He described it as an alternative to halting attacks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for an energy ceasefire. Zelensky said Ukraine could not refrain from responding while Russia continued attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The U.S. State Department announced approval of the interceptor sale on October 30. Zelensky said 500 PAC-3 interceptors could make up an effective defense package for winter, but warned that deliveries might not begin for several years. He has asked U.S. partners to find a way to provide the systems when Ukraine faces an immediate threat and need. The timing matters to...