For several months, the United States has provided Ukraine with precise information about energy installations that can be bombed in Russia. This support contrasts with Donald Trump's previous attitude towards Vladimir Putin. Officially, Washington wants to push Moscow to negotiate. But this is probably not the only motivation of the US president, writes France 24, taken by Rador Radio Romania.
Ukraine's intense bombing campaign against Russian energy infrastructure has been actively encouraged by Washington for months, the Financial Times Sunday revealed.
The United States has provided detailed information that allowed Ukrainian rockets and drones to attack installations – such as refineries and oil deposits – located hundreds of kilometers from the border with Ukraine, on the Russian territory, the British Business and Finance daily reported.
Better information than from Google Maps
At the beginning of October, Wall Street Journal wrote that Donald Trump was planning to provide this type of data to the Ukrainian army. In reality, the president seems to have acted for a long time.
It seems that Donald Trump has decided to make this information available to Ukraine after discussing it on the phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski in mid -July. The purpose seems to be forces Vladimir Putin to give up under the weight of the bombings regarding the energy infrastructure to oblige to negotiate, explains FT. Oil remains the star of Russian exports, despite international sanctions.
This understanding between Washington and Kiev would be the most concrete sign of Donald Trump's disposition to Vladimir Putin so far. Since July, the Ukrainians have managed to attack at least 16 of the 38 Russia's oil refineries. Some sites, such as Volgograd, over 350 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, were even hit several times.
But to what extent does Ukraine need American information to attack this type of installation? “The refineries or fuel deposits are targets whose location is known and often available on Google Maps. Moreover, there are no mobile targets, which require access to the latest satellite data to make sure you attack in the right place,” says Huseyn Aliyev, a specialist in the Ukraine at Glasgow University.
Only GPS coordinates should not be considered. “The United States has a vast constellation of satellites and radars that can precisely mapping the electromagnetic signatures of the air defense. This is important for adjusting the flight plan – altitude, trajectories – rockets and drones to avoid these defenses,” explains Frank Ledwidge, a specialist in military issues at the Soviet Soviet University.
From military targets to strategic targets
Providing information by the United States is not a novelty. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, “Washington has usually provided the location of targets of interest to the Ukrainian army,” wrote Egle E. Murauskaite, a security expert at the University of Maryland, in 2023. In April 2022, the Russian war ship Moskva was submerged in the Black Sea by Ukrainian attacks due to US Secret Services.
“But so far it has been mainly military and tactical targets, while energy infrastructures, located at greater distances, represent new strategic targets,” notes Erik Stijnman, specialist in military security in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war at the Neer Dandeline Institute of International Relations.
The purpose is no longer just the destruction of ammunition deposits or control centers near the front, but the impact on Russia's ability to finance the war or to provide fuel to its mechanized units.
The Trump administration is also closely involved at every stage of this bombing campaign. Washington not only receives requests from Ukraine for specific sites, but defines and what are the priority targets to be targeted, according to FT.
The Ukrainian drone fleet has become a 'tool' used by Washington to weaken the Russian economy and push Vladimir Putin to negotiate, the British daily explained.
An approach that has no connection with the one adopted by Donald Trump at the beginning of his term. Shortly after returning to the White House, he decided to “interrupt” the exchange of information with Ukraine. This time, he seems to go even further than his predecessor, Joe Biden, who delayed to authorize Kiev to hit the Russian territory.
Is it really a climbing?
Although this new approach may seem to be escalating the tensions between the US and Russia, it is not necessarily the case.
“If the goal is really pushing Russia to negotiate by bombing its infrastructure, the chances of success are small. Only about 20% of oil production is affected, which is not sufficient. The impact will be felt first of the civilian population and there will be sufficient capacity to ensure the priority supply of the armed forces,” Huseyn Aliyev believes.
“There would be a need for an exponentially larger exponential scale to make a difference. There is no precedent in history to suggest that bombing dozens of infrastructure projects can force an opponent to negotiate,” confirms Frank Ledwidge.
So what is the purpose? “The American objective could, on the other hand, be desolate tensions,” stresses Erik Stijnman. By joining this campaign, Americans ensure that Ukraine will only attack military acceptable targets and thus avoid any escalation.
This exchange of information shows that there is “a limit imposed by the United States on the type of targets that Ukrainians can attack with American weapons,” adds Erik Stijnman.
Moscow's implicit insurance in this regard are more important as Washington plans to deliver Tomahawk Long -range Raches to Kiev. As these weapons can cause ravages on the battlefield and not only, the experts interviewed by France 24 believe that Russia should be prepared for their arrival.
More cynical, Frank Ledwidge adds that this is “for Donald Trump and make sure he will not take responsibility in the event of a defeat of Ukraine.” “He does not want to be told that he did not support Ukraine if the future peace negotiations are heading in favor of Russia,” concludes this expert.
