Zelenskyy says US taking Putin's side would be 'historic mistake' - as Russian oil sites attacked

What the report says

Sky News World reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the United States against formally aligning with Russia, describing such a move as a “historic mistake.” The comments come amid renewed battlefield pressure and a wider diplomatic backdrop in which Kyiv is seeking continued Western support while facing uncertainty about the future direction of US policy.

At the same time, Ukrainian drones struck oil facilities in and around St Petersburg, according to the report. The attacks add to the pattern of long-range strikes on energy infrastructure inside Russia, which Ukraine has used as part of its broader war effort to disrupt military logistics and impose costs on Moscow.

The developments matter because they link frontline military action with high-stakes international politics. Zelenskyy’s remarks underline Ukraine’s concern that any shift in Washington could affect aid, diplomatic backing and the broader balance of support against Russia. The St Petersburg strikes also show that Ukraine continues to target strategic assets far from the front line, a tactic that has become an important part of the conflict.

More broadly, the episode reflects how the war is being shaped both by events on the ground and by signals from allied capitals. Sky News World’s report places the attacks and Zelenskyy’s warning together as evidence of the pressure facing Ukraine as it tries to maintain support while responding to Russian advances and infrastructure targets.