The U.S. is threatening to cut off its weapons procurement system for Ukraine to pressure Kyiv into halting attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, the Financial Times reported Sunday, citing European officials. The U.S. has also warned of cutting intelligence sharing.
The U.S. is leveraging its military aid to Ukraine as a tool to influence Kyiv's strategy in the conflict, potentially impacting the flow of essential weaponry and intelligence.
The U.S. has threatened to suspend its weapons procurement mechanism for Ukraine unless Kyiv ceases attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, the Financial Times reported on Oct. 11, citing unnamed European officials. U.S. officials conveyed these warnings in calls to Kyiv and European capitals on Oct. 10 and 11, according to officials who participated in or were briefed on the conversations. Washington also threatened to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine. The weapons procurement mechanism in question is known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). The reported pressure preceded an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 11 stating that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to stop attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky’s office, however, said it had no knowledge of such an agreement. Russia also reportedly struck Kharkiv's power plant following Trump's announcement. A senior Ukrainian official close to Zelensky indicated that crews were still working to restore power and water in Kyiv following Russian strikes when Trump made his announcement, stating, "Nobody has heard [of the ceasefire]." Earlier, Zelensky had expressed support for a halt to energy infrastructure attacks in an interview with ABC News. The White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls described by the European officials.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.