Zelensky’s diesel burnout, Nord Stream on trial, Russiagate revived: RT stories that shaped the week

This week, we also covered Ukraine’s escalating refinery strikes and the spread of student unrest beyond France Zelensky’s diesel-fueled burnout Read more Zelensky has made his choice, now America must make its own This week did not start well for Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who was apparently blindsided by US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel supplies after talks with the Kremlin.

The deal won’t alleviate the global diesel shortage, but it’s already cooling speculative markets and easing pressure on Trump ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

For Zelensky, it’s a “diplomatic nightmare,” as Russian analyst Sergey Poletaev wrote for RT .

Trump rubbed salt in the wound on Saturday when he openly suggested that Ukrainians “ get a new leader who can make a deal ” and halt attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump went on to claim , “wants to make a deal more than Zelensky.” Backed into a corner, Zelensky began throwing haymakers .

Accusing the American president of empathizing with dictators, Zelensky demanded air defense missiles from the US before vowing to continue his drone campaign against Russia’s refineries – with or without American support.

The US apparently sent a warning signal to Zelensky by throttling the Ukrainian military’s access to SpaceX’s high-speed Starlink and Starshield satellite communications services, which are vital tools in guiding attack drones used against Russia, and in detecting incoming retaliatory strikes.

Neither Trump nor SpaceX CEO Elon Musk would take responsibility for the communications drop-off, but even if they had, their message would likely have fallen of deaf ears.

Zelensky escalates the energy war The Ukrainian leader followed through on his promise to keep hitting Russian refineries, despite Trump’s announcement of an “energy ceasefire” between Moscow and Kiev (which neither side confirmed).

Ukrainian forces attacked facilities in Russia’s Saratov and Ryazan regions on Wednesday, before firing a barrage of four long-range Flamingo cruise missiles and 69 fixed-wing kamikaze drones at the Ryazan refinery again on Thursday.

Debris from an intercepted UAV triggered an intense fire at the facility , according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Read more Russia strikes military-linked energy facilities across Ukraine (VIDEOS) Retaliation was swift, from both Moscow and Washington.

Russian forces used missiles and drones to strike six power plants in Kiev , Kharkov, and the surrounding regions, as well as military logistics hubs and data centers.