US threatens to block arms shipments to Ukraine following attacks on Russian refineries

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free

Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world

The Trump administration is threatening to end the system of purchasing weapons from Ukraine in order to pressure kyiv to stop its major strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, according to European officials.

The officials, who received calls from U.S. officials on Saturday and Sunday or were briefed on their situation, said the United States was pressuring European capitals and kyiv to try to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. The White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls.

The U.S. message, the officials added, included threats to end intelligence sharing and the Purl — Ukraine’s priority requirements list mechanism for purchasing U.S. weapons from Ukraine.

“They’re calling kyiv…they’re calling everyone (in Europe),” said one official who received a call from a U.S. defense official.

Purl is a NATO-run initiative through which kyiv’s allies purchase U.S.-made weapons that are then supplied to Ukraine. The United States makes no financial contribution to the fund.

Pavlo Palisa, a military adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky and a former general in Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade, said he had been contacted by U.S. officials.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday surprised kyiv and the Europeans his administration was seeking to put pressure on, when he announced on social media that Ukraine and Russia had reached a ceasefire to end mutual attacks on their energy infrastructure.

“Effective immediately, there is an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides agree. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said Sunday evening that Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire was “good news for everyone – and it is important that it becomes reality.”

“Unfortunately, the Ukrainian sky was infested with Russian shahed (drones) all day today,” he said. “There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening.

“Ukraine has proposed many de-escalation measures. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin had only one answer to each of them: ‘nyet’ (no), Zelensky added. “We hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine and the whole world that will lead to real and dignified peace. . . and we hope that Putin will follow through on what President Trump said.”

It was not immediately clear whether Russia had accepted the deal.

The White House also declined to say whether Trump would consider Zelensky’s proposal to force Putin to agree to a full 60-day ceasefire so Ukraine can hold elections.