U.S. warns Kyiv strikes could jeopardise intelligence sharing

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U.S. warns Kyiv on strikes

Highlights

U.S. officials in Miami warn Ukrainian negotiators that strikes on Russian oil refineries could lead to curtailed intelligence sharing, shifting talks' tone Friday.
Donald Trump announces a deal with Vladimir Putin to release Russian diesel onto the world market, and U.S. intermediaries relay plans to lift diesel sanctions and remove Moscow’s export ban.
Ukrainian officials reject halting refinery strikes without Moscow’s reciprocity, tensions rise after deadly Russian attacks, and Kyiv cancels further Miami talks amidst growing domestic backlash.

Miami talks unravel over refinery strikes and diesel plan

As first reported by the Financial Times, U.S. officials warn Ukrainian negotiators in Miami that intelligence sharing could be curtailed if Kyiv does not halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. The warning emerges during nearly eight hours of talks on Friday that are intended to explore ways to push Russia toward ending the war.

The meeting shifts sharply after Donald Trump announces that he has reached a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release diesel onto the world market, according to people with direct knowledge of the discussions. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner then tell the Ukrainian side that the U.S. is poised to lift sanctions on Russian diesel and that Moscow plans to remove its export ban, according to a person familiar with the talks.

Ukrainian officials view Washington's demand that Kyiv stop the strikes without a parallel commitment from Moscow as unfair. A senior Ukrainian official says after Trump's announcement that Ukraine will continue, and Russian authorities later say Ukrainian forces strike the Yug Rusi oil terminal in Rostov-on-Don.

Witkoff says in a post on X that the Miami talks are productive and help identify areas for further discussion. He adds that both sides agree to continue diplomatic efforts, even as the Ukrainian team cuts its trip short and drops a planned second round of talks on Saturday.

Political fallout grows as attacks continue

Zelenskyy criticises Trump after the diesel announcement, calling it a weak decision by strong partners and arguing that the agreement emboldens Putin and enables Russia to keep fighting. The backlash spreads in Ukraine as Russian missile and drone attacks kill more than 80 people since Wednesday, while a glide-bomb strike on Zaporizhzhia on Saturday kills at least 15 civilians, including three children, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Russian ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones also attack Kyiv on Saturday afternoon, with sirens sounding across the capital and air defences shooting down at least one drone over a densely populated area. Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, says Trump's decision undermines U.S. credibility and risks strengthening Russia's war machine.

The clash marks a reversal from Trump's earlier stance. A year ago, he encourages Ukraine to hit Russian refineries harder as part of an effort to weaken Putin's economy, according to people briefed on the call. The Trump administration has also suspended intelligence co-operation with Kyiv before, including an eight-day halt in March last year after an Oval Office dispute between Trump and Zelenskyy, while later threatening support again unless Ukraine accepts Washington's preferred terms.

Our earlier report on Trump’s agreement with Putin to ramp up Russian diesel exports explained the proposed schedule of deliveries, starting with an immediate shipment of more than 300,000 tons and potentially larger follow-on volumes tied to refinery capacity. It also outlined how additional supply could affect near-term diesel availability and pricing for U.S. and global buyers, given diesel’s importance to transport and industrial costs.

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