Axios: US threatened to cut intelligence sharing with Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries
US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner threatened during talks with the Ukrainian team to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Source: Axios, citing a Ukrainian official, as reported by European Pravda
Details: A Ukrainian official claimed that during the talks, Witkoff and Kushner had threatened that Trump could cut off Ukraine's access to US intelligence if it continued to ignore his requests to stop striking Russian oil refineries.
A US official, however, denied that any such threat had been made and said Witkoff and Kushner had told the Ukrainians that the US is a reliable partner providing ammunition and intelligence. Ukraine should therefore not take steps that harm American consumers.
"The attacks on the refineries cause pain in Russia, but it causes pain for the US, too," the US official said.
Background:
- According to Axios, Trump decided to strike a deal with Russia on diesel fuel after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ignored half a dozen US requests to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.
- On the evening of 9 October, Trump said he had spoken by phone with Putin and agreed on supplies of millions of tonnes of Russian diesel to US and global markets.
- Meanwhile, talks involving Ukrainian, European and US representatives ended earlier than planned, although Witkoff described the meetings as productive. The talks in Miami had been expected to last two days.
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