Ukraine Warupdated 1h ago2 min read
United States Threatens To Halt Ukraine Arms Procurement Over Russian Oil Refinery Strikes
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United States threatens to suspend the weapons procurement mechanism for Ukraine. The pressure targets Kyiv’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure.
13 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Ukrainian Drones Strike Yandex Data Center In Kaluga, Partially Disrupt Services →
Arms leverage over refineries
The United States threatened to halt the mechanism for purchasing American weapons for Ukraine in order to force Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, the Financial Times reported citing European officials.
The Financial Times also reported that Washington threatened to suspend intelligence sharing and to suspend the weapons procurement system for weapon systems, while U.S. officials sought to persuade European capitals and Kyiv to curb further Ukrainian advances on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
Donald Trump said on Saturday that Zelenskiy had many times had the opportunity to end the Ukraine war but chose not to, and Trump added, “I think it is time for Ukraine to have a new president.”
Trump then announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a deal he called an “energy ceasefire,” with the two states set to suspend their attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure with immediate effect.
Zelenskiy said shortly afterward to the U.S. portal Axios that the agreement “is new to me. But if the Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will also agree.”
Kyiv says it lacks details
Zelenskiy’s office said it had no knowledge of the energy ceasefire agreement, after Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!”
A senior Ukrainian official close to Zelenskiy said, “Nobody has heard [of the ceasefire],” while crews were still working to restore power and water in Kyiv following Russian strikes.
The Kyiv Independent reported that U.S. officials conveyed the warnings in calls to Kyiv and European capitals on Oct. 10 and 11, and the outlet said Washington threatened to stop sharing intelligence.
The Financial Times, as described by the Kyiv Independent, said the weapons procurement mechanism known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) allows U.S. weapons to be purchased for Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent also reported that the White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls described by the European officials.
PURL and intelligence at risk
The Financial Times reported that the U.S. message included threats to suspend intelligence sharing and the PURL mechanism for procuring U.S. weapons for Ukraine, and the report framed the pressure as tied to strikes on Russian oil refineries.
A European official who received a call from a U.S. defense official said, “They are calling Kyiv… They are calling everyone [in Europe],” as the U.S. pressed Kyiv and European capitals.
The Kyiv Independent reported that the reported pressure preceded Trump’s announcement on Oct. 11 that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to stop attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.
Zelenskiy said he was still waiting for details of the deal, and the Kyiv Independent reported that Russia struck Kharkiv's power plant following Trump’s announcement.
The Kyiv Independent said the White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls described by the European officials, leaving the threatened halt to procurement and intelligence sharing as the immediate stake described in the reporting.