The Trump administration has issued an ultimatum to Ukraine: stop deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure or face a suspension of U.S. intelligence sharing and weapons deliveries, according to multiple reports on Monday.
U.S. State Department and Pentagon officials conveyed the warning to Ukrainian and European counterparts over the weekend, with the U.S. military directly informing Ukrainian commanders, as reported by CNN. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Financial Times first detailed the threat, noting it also includes a potential halt to the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism—a NATO-managed process that facilitates the purchase of American-made weapons for Kyiv. 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]."
The pressure comes on the heels of President Trump's announcement last week that Washington would buy 300,000 tons of Russian diesel in an effort to lower fuel prices, which have climbed amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. Trump has argued that Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries are driving up U.S. diesel costs ahead of November's midterm elections—a claim that has drawn sharp criticism from GOP lawmakers concerned about the political fallout.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the diesel purchase, saying it effectively funds Russia's war effort. On Sunday, Trump surprised Kyiv by announcing an "energy ceasefire" agreement between Ukraine and Russia, but Zelensky said at the Warsaw Security Forum that Ukraine learned of the deal only through media reports.
In a post on X, Zelensky expressed conditional support for the proposal, insisting that Kyiv would not halt its retaliatory strikes unless Russia also ceases attacks on Ukraine's energy grid. On Monday, he reported that Russia had continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, including a power plant in Kharkiv.
The standoff raises questions about the reliability of U.S. support for Ukraine, particularly as Trump's foreign policy veers toward transactional deals with Moscow. Analysts have cast doubt on the diesel deal's actual impact on prices, and the administration's threats could further strain transatlantic relations.
Meanwhile, domestic political battles are intensifying, with Trump's immigration crackdown reshaping Florida's midterm races and his taxpayer-funded ad campaign facing legal setbacks. The administration's maneuvers on Russia and energy are likely to remain a flashpoint as the election season heats up.
