Kallas defends Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, says attacks would stop if Russia ended the war

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas defended Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries, saying the attacks were part of Kyiv's defense against Moscow's invasion.

"The core issue is that Russia should stop this war, so there wouldn't be any attacks on the refineries either," Kallas said in an interview with Euronews' Europe Today.

She said oil revenues provide a major source of financing for Russia's war effort and argued that Ukrainian attacks on refineries therefore fall within Ukraine's right to defend itself under international law.

Kallas also criticized pressure on Kyiv to stop the strikes while Russia continues attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, saying pressure should instead be directed at the aggressor.

Her remarks come as Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian refineries after declaring an end to the U.S.-backed energy ceasefire, accusing Moscow of continuing attacks on Ukrainian power facilities.