“US warns Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries and stop sharing information”

Pressure during talks with Ukraine on the 9th... Ukraine reacts

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Hoon-sang = The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 10th (local time) that the United States warned Ukraine that it would stop sharing key information if it did not stop attacking Russian oil refineries.

According to reports, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner conveyed this possibility during an eight-hour meeting with Ukraine held in Miami, USA on the 9th. A Ukrainian official involved in the negotiations told the FT, “It was a firm request from President (Donald Trump).” Ukraine has been using U.S. intelligence to attack oil refineries to cut off Russia's main source of revenue.

Sources familiar with the details of the meeting said that the meeting was strained when the United States suddenly announced to Ukraine that President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to supply Russian diesel, and the meeting scheduled for the 10th was canceled.

The Ukrainian side is said to have complained that it was unfair for the United States to demand this from only them while not demanding that Russia stop its air strikes. Sources added that despite this friction, discussions were held on preparing a plan to end the war that could be delivered to Russia before this winter.

After President Trump announced the diesel trade agreement with Russia on the 9th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly protested and immediately launched an airstrike on a Russian oil terminal.

In response, President Trump even mentioned the need for a replacement the next day, saying, "Zelensky could have ended this war many times, but he chose not to." He then said that Ukraine continued to attack despite his warning that the attack on Russian oil facilities was causing a "global problem," and pressed, "It would be better to stop right away."

The FT pointed out that President Trump encouraged Ukraine to hit Russian oil refineries harder a year ago as a way to put economic pressure on Russia and bring it to the negotiating table. However, President Trump recently repeatedly pressured President Zelenskyy to stop Ukraine's attack on Russian oil refineries, citing its negative impact on the global energy market and especially the ripple effect on American consumers.

The Trump administration suspended intelligence cooperation with Ukraine for eight days after President Trump and President Zelenskyy clashed in the Oval Office of the White House in March last year.