The administration of US President Donald Trump has issued a severe warning to Kyiv, threatening to cut off the sharing of American intelligence data if Ukraine continues its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries. According to Washington, these strikes drive up fuel prices in the US domestic market and undermine global energy stability.
Background and Washington's Demands
According to Axios, citing US officials, Donald Trump has asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about six times to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, but Kyiv has ignored the appeals. The White House emphasizes that refinery strikes "hurt the US," while the US leader does not consider them equivalent to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid. During recent talks in Miami, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner openly warned the Ukrainian delegation about the threat of losing access to vital intelligence feeds.
Sanctions Relief for Russia and Ukraine's Reaction
Amidst the ongoing standoff over refineries, the US Treasury Department decided to permit supplies of Russian diesel fuel by lifting relevant sanctions until April 7, 2027. This decision sparked sharp criticism in Kyiv, where the deal was compared to last year's controversial agreements and deemed unfair. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials state that strikes on Russian facilities will only stop if a comprehensive energy truce is established to guarantee the security of Ukraine's infrastructure.
Contradictory Data
There are noticeable discrepancies in how the consequences and priorities of the parties are assessed. The US administration insists that Ukrainian refinery attacks are a key factor behind rising US diesel prices and global shortages, placing full responsibility on Kyiv. On the other hand, Ukrainian sources and insiders in military circles insist on the inevitability of continuing such strikes as an effective deterrent against the aggressor, emphasizing that any energy truce must be bilateral and fair rather than unilaterally imposed under the threat of diplomatic and intelligence blackmail.
Prospects for Diplomatic Settlement
Despite mounting tensions, the American side continues searching for a diplomatic way out of the deadlock. Trump administration officials are considering visiting both Moscow and Kiev next week to present new peace initiatives. Washington hopes to draft a compromise proposal that could convince the Kremlin to stop the war, though experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of such measures amid escalating energy and sanctions conflicts.
