Officials from the Trump administration have issued warnings to Kyiv about the potential suspension of military aid, specifically referencing the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which allows European countries to procure U.S. weapons for Ukraine. Alongside threats to weapon support, U.S. representatives have also cautioned Ukrainian officials about the likelihood of halting intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
According to the Financial Times, U.S. officials made calls to European capitals and to Kyiv on October 10 and 11. The objective of these calls was to advocate for a cessation of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. Sources familiar with the discussions either received these calls or were informed about their contents.
One official indicated that the calls came from a representative of the U.S. Department of Defense. Among those contacted was Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The White House did not confirm or comment on these calls.
Later that day, Trump announced an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia, which both parties supposedly agreed to. In response, the Ukrainian president stated that he had no prior knowledge of such an agreement but confirmed that Ukraine would support it if Russia did as well. The Kremlin has yet to comment on this alleged agreement with Trump. However, following the announcement, Russian forces launched an attack on a thermal power plant in Kharkiv.
Context
- PURL was launched by NATO on August 4, 2025, facilitating the provision of American weaponry to Ukraine financed by European allies and Canada.
- Trump accused Kyiv of exacerbating the global diesel fuel shortage and rising prices, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reduce the intensity of attacks. Following this, on September 30, the Russian outlet “Agency” pointed out that Ukraine had supposedly ceased strikes on Russian oil refineries. However, after a brief pause, The Guardian reported on October 1 that Ukraine continued to target Russian oil facilities.
- In a Reuters interview on October 3, the Ukrainian president claimed that Ukraine would intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in retaliation for Russia’s increased attacks on civilian infrastructure, asserting that the Kremlin aims to force residents of Kyiv and other cities to leave before winter. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s response would not target civilian populations.
- On October 9, Trump held a phone call with illegitimate Russian President Vladimir Putin, following which he announced an agreement for the supply of Russian diesel to the U.S. and global markets. According to a temporary general license from OFAC, the permission will remain valid until April 7, 2027.
- Financial Times, citing sources on October 10, reported that following Trump’s easing of sanctions on Russian diesel, officials in his administration intensified pressure on Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries, threatening to halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine if they refused. During this meeting, the Ukrainian negotiating team learned of Trump’s decisions and the easing of sanctions on Russian diesel, resulting in the negotiations being shortened from two days to one.
