Stories
US Threatens to Cut Ukraine Intelligence Sharing Over Refinery Strikes
- •The United States warned Ukraine that continued drone strikes on Russian oil refineries could jeopardize vital intelligence-sharing between the two nations.
- •The warning was delivered by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during high-stakes talks in Miami after President Donald Trump reached a diesel agreement with Vladimir Putin.
- •Despite Washington's pressure and threats of suspended cooperation, senior Ukrainian officials vowed to continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure to disrupt Moscow's war revenue.
- •Ukraine's negotiating team cut short their visit to Miami following the dispute, deepening political tensions over peace negotiations and US policy shifts.
Key Questions Answered
The United States warned Ukraine that continued drone and long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries could jeopardize bilateral intelligence-sharing. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the possibility of suspending intelligence cooperation during talks in Miami to pressure Kyiv into halting its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Despite US pressure, Ukrainian officials declared they would not abandon their campaign against Russian energy facilities, with a senior official stating they will continue burning Russian refineries. Hours after a diesel agreement was announced, Ukrainian forces struck the Yug Rusi oil terminal in Rostov-on-Don and later hit the Omsk oil refinery in Siberia.
Tensions escalated after US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin to ease restrictions on Russian diesel supplies to lower global fuel prices. Ukrainian officials objected to being asked to stop refinery attacks without a reciprocal commitment from Moscow, viewing the policy shift as damaging to trust.
