US threatens to cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Representatives of US President Donald Trump's administration threatened to stop sharing American intelligence with Ukraine if Kyiv continues striking Russian oil refineries, reports Axios.
According to a US official, Trump has repeatedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.
However, Kyiv ignored about six such requests, after which the US president decided to allow purchases of Russian diesel fuel.
The source claims that strikes on Russia's oil refining infrastructure are contributing to rising fuel prices in the US.
At the same time, according to the source, Trump does not consider Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries equivalent to Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy system.
The US leader claims that attacks on Russian oil refineries "hurt American consumers."
"Zelensky is misreading the room. By continuing to hit refineries, he is eroding the good will that he has built with Trump over the last six months," the US official said.
A Ukrainian official told Axios that during talks in Miami, the US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner warned the Ukrainian side that it could be disconnected from the US intelligence system if strikes on Russian oil refineries continued.
Meanwhile, according to Axios, Witkoff and Kushner are considering visiting Moscow and Kyiv next week to discuss new peace proposals.
The US official noted that Washington continues to seek a deal that could persuade Putin to end the war.
"Putin is hitting [Ukraine] hard but we think he is open to a discussion on ending the war. We want to work on a new proposal that will be good enough for him in order to get him to stop," the US official said.
US-Russia diesel deal
The US Treasury Department allowed shipments of Russian diesel fuel, lifting sanctions on it until April 7, 2027.
Russia will supply millions of tons of diesel fuel to the US and global markets. The US Treasury Department is already issuing a temporary license that will allow the aggressor country to begin deliveries.
US President Donald Trump recently said that Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries, rather than the war in the Middle East, were the reason for rising diesel fuel prices.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly stated that Ukraine must stop striking Russian infrastructure, as this allegedly causes a global diesel shortage.
Ukraine considers the US-Russia diesel deal unfair and compares it to last year's summit in Alaska. Ukraine would support easing sanctions against Russia only in exchange for an energy truce.
According to a source cited by RBC-Ukraine, Ukraine will continue striking Russian oil refineries unless the parties reach an agreement on an energy truce.
