Washington has stepped up pressure on Kyiv, demanding an end to attacks on Russian oil refineries. According to a report by Deutsche Welle, citing a senior Ukrainian official, the Ukrainian side has been informed of US President Donald Trump’s firm demand to cease attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure. The US administration links the Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries to the rise in diesel prices, whilst Kyiv insists that the attacks are a response to Russian shelling of Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
- The US is calling for an end to the attacks on Russian oil refineries.
- Trump links the attacks on Ukraine to rising fuel prices.
- Kyiv is insisting on a mutual energy truce.
- The US has already eased restrictions on Russian diesel.
Washington is stepping up pressure on Kyiv over the attacks on Russian oil refineries
Administration Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the issue of halting strikes on Russian oil refining infrastructure with the Ukrainian leadership. According to Axios, US officials believe that the continuation of these attacks is straining relations between Washington and Kyiv and having a negative impact on the global fuel market.
One of the publication’s sources stated that the US had repeatedly approached Ukraine with this request, but the Ukrainian leadership had refused to agree to a unilateral cessation of strikes.
Kyiv’s position is that Russian oil refineries and the associated infrastructure supply fuel to Russian troops and generate revenue that Moscow can use to fund military operations.
At the same time, Trump had previously stated that it was Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries that had contributed to the diesel shortage. He reiterated this position on 5 October, although the global fuel market is also affected by the war in the Middle East and disruptions to international supplies.
A dispute over intelligence data arose during the talks in Miami
During the negotiations During a meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Miami, representatives from Washington raised the issue of a possible restriction on the exchange of intelligence if Ukraine continues its strikes on Russian oil facilities.
The article discusses negotiations involving the US President’s Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The meeting focused on possible ways to end the war, security guarantees and economic agreements.
Ukraine proposes a mutual cessation of attacks on the energy sector
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that Ukraine is ready to stop the attacks on Russian oil refineries and other oil facilities, provided that Russia ceases its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Kyiv is calling on Washington to help secure precisely such a mutual agreement. The Ukrainian side stresses that it cannot agree to a cessation of strikes against the Russian oil industry without corresponding commitments from Moscow.
However, according to Axios, the US President does not regard Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries as equivalent to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power stations and electricity grids. This has been one of the main points of disagreement between the two sides.
Trump has reached an agreement with Putin on the supply of Russian diesel fuel
On 9 October, Donald Trump announced that an agreement with Vladimir Putin regarding the supply of Russian diesel fuel. The announced plan provides for the shipment of over 4.8 million tonnes of the product in several consignments.
The US Treasury Department has also temporarily authorised certain transactions involving Russian diesel. This decision opens up additional export opportunities for Moscow, although the actual volumes of future supplies have yet to be confirmed.
Zelenskyy sharply criticised the easing of sanctions, warning that Russia might use the additional revenue to purchase components for weapons, to manufacture missiles and drones, and to continue the war.
Despite Washington’s demands, the Ukrainian side has not yet announced a decision to unilaterally cease strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Officials in Kyiv have stated that they intend to continue such operations.
