FT: US has been helping Ukraine strike Russian oil refineries for months

According to unofficial reports, the United States has been assisting Ukraine for several months in carrying out long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities.

Source: Financial Times

Details: Numerous Ukrainian and American officials familiar with the campaign said that US intelligence has enabled Ukrainian forces to strike key Russian energy targets, including oil refineries far from the front line.

This support, which intensified from mid-summer, had not been previously reported.

The change reportedly followed a phone conversation in July between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskнy, during which, according to the FT, the US president asked whether Ukraine could strike Moscow if Washington provided long-range weapons.

Trump expressed his support for a strategy intended to "make them [the Russians] feel pain" and pressure the Kremlin into negotiations, two sources familiar with the call said. The White House later stated that Trump "was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing".

Officials familiar with the matter said US intelligence has helped Kyiv plan flight paths, altitudes, timing and mission decisions, allowing Ukrainian long-range drones to avoid Russian air defences.

Three people familiar with the operation said Washington was closely involved in all stages of planning. One US official said Ukraine selected targets, after which Washington provided intelligence on the vulnerabilities of those facilities.

However, others involved in or familiar with the operations said the US also determined priority targets for the Ukrainians. One source described Ukrainian drones as an "instrument" for Washington to disrupt Russia's economy and push Putin toward a settlement.

Trump had openly expressed frustration with Putin since rolling out the red carpet for his Russian counterpart at the Alaska summit, which produced little progress. Sources said this was also a factor in Trump's support for long-range strikes.

Background:

• On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Donald Trump.
• According to Axios, during the conversation, Zelenskyy discussed the possibility of Ukraine receiving Tomahawk long-range missiles.
• The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that detailed and active discussions with the US are currently ongoing regarding the potential provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

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