Ukraine's military has reportedly paused its strikes on Russian oil refineries following pressure from US President Donald Trump. According to the Wall Street Journal, Ukrainian units carrying out long-range strikes were informed in mid-October that the campaign against refineries was effectively on hold once ongoing missions were completed. The pause is expected to last until after the US midterm elections and potentially into November.
The reported pause comes amid renewed efforts to revive US-backed peace talks to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two. Ukraine had previously refused to halt the strikes, citing its long-range drone campaign as its only viable response to years of Russian bombardment. The Ukrainian military's actions had been a point of contention between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Relations between Trump and Zelenskiy have taken a sharp downward turn in recent weeks, with Trump growing increasingly frustrated over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. This frustration comes as diesel prices in the US have hit record highs. In response, Trump announced a deal to buy diesel from Moscow and waived sanctions on Moscow authorized by a bill he signed into law in September.
Russia has meanwhile stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure. A recent Russian strike on a civilian warehouse in Kyiv resulted in at least three fatalities, according to the State Emergency Service. The escalation of attacks has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal report cited people with knowledge of the operations, but Reuters could not immediately verify the information. If confirmed, the pause in strikes would mark a significant shift in Ukraine's military strategy. Ukraine's military has relied heavily on long-range drone strikes to target Russian energy infrastructure.
The impact of the reported pause on the conflict is unclear. Peace talks have been ongoing, but a lasting resolution has yet to be reached. The situation remains volatile, with both sides suffering significant losses. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely.
The US midterm elections are scheduled to take place on November 8. The timing of the reported pause has raised questions about the potential influence of US domestic politics on the conflict in Ukraine. The situation is likely to remain a key point of contention in international relations.
Key points
- Ukraine's military has paused strikes on Russian oil refineries amid reported pressure from US President Donald Trump.
- The pause is expected to last until after the US midterm elections and potentially into November.
- The reported pause comes amid renewed efforts to revive US-backed peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine.
