US Threatens Ukraine Arms Over Strikes on Russian Energy Sites

Washington has threatened to block the mechanism used by Ukraine’s allies to buy American weapons unless Kyiv stops striking Russian energy facilities, European officials told the Financial Times.

The warning also covered intelligence sharing.

Officials said American counterparts called on Saturday and Sunday, pressing both Kyiv and European capitals to end the refinery attacks.

Arms Procurement Under Pressure

The threatened mechanism is the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, a NATO-managed initiative that allows allies to purchase U.S.-made weapons for delivery to Ukraine.

Washington supplies the weapons through the arrangement but does not contribute financially to the fund.

European officials either participated in the calls or received briefings.

Pavlo Palisa, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s military adviser and a former general of Ukraine’s 93rd mechanized brigade, also said American officials had contacted him.

The White House would neither confirm the calls nor discuss their contents.

Trump Announces Energy Ceasefire

On Sunday, President Donald Trump declared that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to stop attacking one another’s energy infrastructure, surprising Ukrainian officials and the European governments Washington had been lobbying.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Russia’s acceptance of the arrangement could not immediately be established.

Shortly after the announcement, a senior Ukrainian official close to Zelensky told the FT that officials had heard nothing about a ceasefire.

Repair crews were still working to reconnect electricity and water in Kyiv following Russian attacks.

Kyiv Seeks Implementation

Zelensky welcomed the announcement later on Sunday, calling it “good news for everyone, and it is important that it becomes reality.”

He nevertheless reported Russian drone activity throughout the day, along with glide-bomb attacks and strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities.

He said a power plant in Kharkiv had been hit that evening.

Zelensky said Ukraine had repeatedly offered steps toward de-escalation that Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected.

He urged Putin to deliver on Trump’s announcement.

The White House also did not answer whether Trump would pursue Zelensky’s proposal for a comprehensive 60-day ceasefire to allow Ukraine to hold elections.