Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his country had suspended attacks on Russian oil refineries and energy facilities for two days, while the Kremlin said contacts over a truce aimed at halting strikes on energy infrastructure were continuing. The Ukrainian announcement came after US President Donald Trump spoke of an energy truce, amid disagreements over the nature of the understanding and the extent to which both sides were complying with it.
Uncertainty over the reciprocal implementation of the energy truce
It was unclear whether the halt to the attacks had taken effect on a reciprocal basis. Reports said Russia had not targeted Ukrainian energy facilities during one night, but had continued using missiles and drones to strike logistical targets and transport, leaving the scope and details of the proposed truce disputed between Moscow and Kyiv.
The Kremlin said contacts over the energy truce were continuing, denying any direct connection between a deal to export Russian diesel and Moscow's position on peace negotiations. The contacts coincided with reports of US pressure on Ukraine to proceed with an agreement halting attacks on energy facilities.
US pressure on Kyiv and its repercussions
Reports said Washington had threatened to halt intelligence-sharing and weapons supplies if Kyiv continued targeting Russian oil refineries. Ukraine relies heavily on US information for early warning, while European countries would find it difficult to fully replace these capabilities. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, meanwhile, confirmed that his country was continuing to receive US intelligence.
The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, said the mechanism for supplying weapons to Ukraine was continuing, although the available air-defence capabilities did not meet its needs. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the United States was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and wanted to end the war.
He said: “We are helping them, and sharing intelligence with them. We want the war to end, so we are working with them and with Russia to end the war.” The remarks came after Zelenskyy announced that five Russian ballistic missiles had hit civilian infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv.
The Ukrainian president said his country had not received advance warning from its Western partners before the attack, adding that the Ukrainian Air Force was investigating why no warning had been issued. Statements by Ukrainian and US officials do not establish a direct link between reports of pressure from Washington and the absence of a warning before the missile attack on Kyiv.
Tighter sanctions and rising risks in the Black Sea
While reports spoke of a possible suspension of intelligence cooperation, officials from both sides confirmed that information-sharing and the weapons supply mechanism were continuing. On sanctions, the European Union added about 1,600 individuals and entities linked to the war to its blacklist.
Britain and Germany also called for tougher sanctions on Moscow, as contacts over halting attacks on energy facilities and efforts to end the war continued. Security risks in the Black Sea rose in parallel after attacks targeted commercial vessels off Bulgaria.
The development comes as missile and drone strikes on targets inside Ukraine continue, while contacts between the parties concerned remain focused on securing the energy truce and defining its scope and implementation mechanism.
