Volodymyr Zelensky faces a tough week as Donald Trump uses American arms to stop Ukraine from attacking Russian refineries. While Russia ignores the energy ceasefire, Ukraine resumed hitting refineries despite risks. Many Ukrainian drones now face issues with Starlink. Zelensky must keep a cool head to manage these difficult American ties.
Volodymyr Zelensky has had few weeks so rotten as this one. After striking a scandalous deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, Donald Trump is using American arms and intelligence as leverage to stop Ukraine attacking Russian refineries. Russia, meanwhile, is largely ignoring the "energy ceasefire" Mr Trump announced. In Ukraine, Russian missiles are now arriving without the usual warning from Uncle Sam. And Elon Musk's Starlink internet, on which many Ukrainian drones rely, has been throttled (Mr Musk blames the American government).
Ukraine has resumed hitting Russian refineries. That may be rash -- upsetting Mr Trump may drive the wedge deeper with America, on which Ukraine relies for 95% of its Patriot interceptors. Ukraine could instead increase attacks on other Russian targets, including data centres and distribution hubs. And the White House has suggested that Mr Trump's energy truce covers only refineries -- of which Ukraine has just one. Mr Zelensky could appeal to Republicans in Congress about this injustice. Above all, he must keep a cool head.