Ukraine pauses strikes on Russian oil refineries amid US pressure ahead of midterms - WSJ
Ukraine has quietly suspended strikes on Russian oil refineries following pressure from the Trump administration, with the pause expected to last until after the November 3 US midterm elections and possibly longer, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with Ukrainian military operations.
According to the Journal, Ukrainian units conducting long-range strikes were instructed in mid-October to suspend attacks on Russian refineries once operations already underway had been completed.
The unofficial pause began early last week, amid deteriorating relations between Kyiv and Washington.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara reportedly told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the military had decided to hold off on refinery strikes because of the sensitive diplomatic situation. Zelenskyy agreed but maintained that the military could resume the attacks if it considered them necessary.
Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy said the military had not been ordered to stop striking refineries but had been “trying to be a little more careful during these days.”
The decision followed pressure from US officials. During a tense conversation with Zelenskyy in Oslo, US envoy Jared Kushner reiterated his demand for a halt to attacks on Russian refineries, according to two American officials cited by the Journal.
Kushner reportedly argued that he and fellow envoy Steve Witkoff were spending considerable time, effort and aviation fuel on negotiations with Moscow. A 30-day pause in refinery strikes, he suggested, would be a way for Ukraine to show its appreciation.
Kyiv sought either a reciprocal halt to Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure or additional US-supplied Patriot air defense missiles, according to the Kyiv Post's account of the Journal's reporting. Neither proposal resulted in an agreement.
The reported suspension comes as Russia continues attacking Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. On October 29, Russian strikes killed civilians and damaged critical facilities across Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries amid rising US diesel prices. Kyiv has defended its long-range strike campaign as a means of weakening Russia's war economy and responding to Moscow's attacks.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the Journal's report. No formal suspension of the refinery strikes has been announced by Kyiv.
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