The Trump administration has issued a stark warning to Ukraine: unless Kyiv halts its deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, the United States may cut off intelligence sharing and weapons sales to Europe for Ukraine, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The State Department and the Pentagon conveyed this message to Ukrainian and European officials over the weekend, with U.S. military commanders directly communicating the threat to their Ukrainian counterparts, as reported by CNN. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
The Financial Times first reported the U.S. warning, which includes a threat to suspend the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, a NATO-managed process used to procure American-made weapons for Ukraine. An official who received a call from a U.S. defense official told the outlet, "They are calling Kyiv … they are calling everyone [in Europe]."
These warnings come on the heels of President Trump's announcement late last week that the U.S. would purchase 300,000 tons of Russian diesel in an effort to lower fuel prices, which have spiked amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. Trump has insisted that Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries have driven up U.S. diesel prices ahead of November's midterm elections.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticized the diesel deal, arguing it provides Moscow with the financial means to sustain its war effort. On Sunday, Trump surprised Ukraine by announcing an "energy ceasefire" agreement between the two countries, but Zelensky, speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland, said Ukraine learned of the deal through news reports. He wrote on X that Ukraine supports the proposal but will not agree to stop its retaliatory strikes unless Russia also halts attacks on Ukraine's energy system.
On Monday, Zelensky reported that Russia has continued to strike Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including a power plant in Kharkiv, underscoring the fragility of any ceasefire.
The threat to cut off intelligence and weapons comes as analysts question the impact of the Trump-Putin diesel deal on fuel prices, with some suggesting it may not deliver the promised relief. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers have slammed the Russian diesel move, warning it could hurt the party's midterm prospects. The administration's stance on Ukraine also intersects with broader domestic controversies, including a federal judge blocking Trump's taxpayer-funded ad campaign and Schumer vowing more legal challenges.
The escalating tensions over Ukraine's military strategy and the U.S. response signal a potential rift in transatlantic unity, as European allies watch closely whether Washington will follow through on its threats. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the U.S. will maintain its support or impose conditions that could alter the course of the conflict.
