‘Zelensky is not Project Ukraine’ — Stanislav Krapivnik

Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries put Trump’s diesel supply deal with Moscow back in the spotlight. Russia says facilities in the Saratov and Ryazan regions were targeted, while conflicting statements over US intelligence sharing raise questions about Washington’s leverage over Kiev.

Former US Army officer Stanislav Krapivnik discusses the refinery strikes, the economics of the diesel deal and whether intelligence could continue reaching Ukraine through Britain. He also assesses Zelensky’s clashes with Trump, his appeal to Reagan’s ‘peace through strength’ principle and Europe’s dependence on American technology.

Krapivnik argues the diesel agreement is largely symbolic and that Washington’s support for Ukraine does not make Zelensky indispensable.