Zelensky Mocks Russia's Fuel Crisis Caused by War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has mocked Russia for facing fuel shortages as a result of the relentless war with Kyiv, accusing President Vladimir Putin of being insensitive to Russians queuing at petrol stations. Zelensky also derided Russia’s military efforts, noting that over more than four years, the Kremlin has set and postponed up to 15 deadlines for capturing the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. His comments came a day after Putin rejected what he described as a Ukrainian proposal to halt long-range strikes and reduce the intensity of the fighting. In a statement released on Monday evening, Zelensky said Putin’s rejection demonstrated a lack of sensitivity towards the Russian people forced to queue for fuel, a situation triggered by a series of Ukrainian attacks on Moscow’s oil industry targets. “Even a country that produces oil, or a ‘petrol station’ as Russia is often called, is now facing fuel shortages,” Zelensky mocked. “This is a direct consequence of the war. One of many consequences. It is also an example of how Ukraine responds — with precision, not terrorism.” Zelensky further highlighted what he called the 15 deadlines set and then postponed by the Kremlin over four years to seize four regions in eastern Ukraine: Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas, as well as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. “The Russian political leadership remains obsessed with the Donbas. If Russia does not end the war, they will have to postpone that deadline again,” he said scornfully. In the early weeks after the February 2022 invasion, Russian forces initially attempted to advance on Kyiv but failed. They later withdrew and concentrated their efforts on capturing the Donbas. Moscow’s forces now control the entire Luhansk region and parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. Although Russian troops are still advancing, Ukrainian officials say their progress has slowed significantly as Kyiv steps up medium- and long-range drone strikes. Putin stated on Sunday that Russian forces would continue pursuing their battlefield objectives to fully control the four Ukrainian regions. He also acknowledged that Russia was experiencing a “shortage” of fuel supplies, though he claimed it was not at a critical level, adding that the government was “taking measures to address it.”