Wicker calls on Trump, Zelensky to broker deal to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) is calling on President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a deal to suspend Kyiv’s strikes on Russian petroleum facilities, which Trump has blamed for high domestic gas prices.

Trump earlier this month unilaterally declared a ceasefire on striking important energy targets in Russia and Ukraine but Moscow repeatedly violated Trump’s declared moratorium, according to Zelensky.

Ukraine retaliated over the weekend by launching a massive drone attack on Moscow and St. Petersburg, and struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg.

Now Wicker says Zelensky is ready to stop hitting Russian energy infrastructure and he urged Trump to negotiate a deal with him, despite recent tensions between the two leaders.

Wicker in a statement laid out what he called the “facts” underlying a possible deal:

“Fact 1: President Trump wants Ukraine to stop attacking Russian petroleum infrastructure,” he said.

“Fact 2: President Zelenskyy wants access to U.S. targeting assistance to stop Russian missiles from being launched at Ukrainian civilians from inside Russia.

“Fact 3: President Zelenskyy has agreed not to hit Russian petroleum in exchange for this targeting assistance.

“Fact 4: President Trump can lower prices at the pump today by simply agreeing to this deal!” he added.

Wicker, one of Ukraine’s most outspoken advocates in the Senate, urged Trump to accept the offer.

Wicker met with Zelensky recently on an overseas trip.

Relations between Trump and Zelensky hit a low point in recent days, as both leaders have criticized each other.

Zelensky criticized Trump for striking a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import millions of tons of diesel into the United States, despite Trump having signed into law last month a sanctions package targeting Moscow.

The Ukrainian leader said he felt betrayed by the Russia diesel deal and asked how Trump could be friends with Putin.

Trump on Sunday blasted Zelensky for hitting Russian oil facilities while knowing it would hurt American farmers, ranchers and businesses.

“Zelenskyy is using Diesel Refineries in Russia as a target, knowing that these attacks are seriously hurting the world diesel markets, including those in the United States,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Farmers, ranchers, and businesses of all kinds are suffering greatly from this, but Russia is, nevertheless, sending, at a low price, millions of barrels of diesel to the World. Zelenskyy doesn’t care,” the president added.