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The Trump administration is threatening to end the system of purchasing weapons from Ukraine in order to pressure kyiv to stop its major strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, according to European officials.
The officials, who received calls from U.S. officials on Saturday and Sunday or were briefed on their situation, said the United States was pressuring European capitals and kyiv to try to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. The White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls.
The U.S. message, the officials added, included threats to end intelligence sharing and the Purl — Ukraine’s priority requirements list mechanism for purchasing U.S. weapons from Ukraine.
“They’re calling kyiv…they’re calling everyone (in Europe),” said one official who received a call from a U.S. defense official.
Purl is a NATO-run initiative through which kyiv’s allies purchase U.S.-made weapons that are then supplied to Ukraine. The United States makes no financial contribution to the fund.
Trump surprised kyiv and the Europeans his administration had sought to pressure on Sunday when he announced on social media that Ukraine and Russia had reached a ceasefire to end attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides agree. Do not break it!” »wrote the American president on his Truth Social platform. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office said it was not aware of a deal and it was not immediately clear whether Russia had agreed.
Pavlo Palisa, Zelensky’s military adviser and former general in Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade, said he had been contacted by U.S. officials.
Shortly before Trump claimed an energy ceasefire had been reached, Zelenskyy reiterated his own desire for such a deal in an interview Sunday morning with ABC News.
“Right now, our repair crews are restoring electricity and water supplies to kyiv (after Russian strikes moments ago),” a senior Ukrainian official close to Zelensky told the FT on Sunday, moments after Trump issued his statement. “No one has heard (about the ceasefire).”
The White House also declined to say whether Trump would consider Zelensky’s proposal to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a full 60-day ceasefire so Ukraine can hold elections.
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