US threatens to halt PURL weapons for Ukraine over refinery strikes: FT

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

WASHINGTON, United States — The Trump administration is threatening to block weapons supplied to Ukraine through the PURL program and suspend intelligence support unless Kyiv stops striking Russian oil refineries, the Financial Times reported.

The reported pressure could affect Ukraine’s access to scarce US-made weapons, including Patriot interceptor missiles, at a time when Russian missile and drone attacks continue to target the country’s cities and energy infrastructure.

US officials call Kyiv and European capitals

Officials from the Trump administration contacted Kyiv and several European capitals over the weekend to demand an end to Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, according to the Financial Times.

European officials who received the calls or were briefed on them said Washington warned that continued attacks could lead to the suspension of intelligence sharing and the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, known as PURL.

“They are calling Kyiv … they are calling everyone [in Europe].”

The official who made the statement said the warning had been delivered during a call from a representative of the US Department of Defense.

One of the Ukrainian officials reportedly contacted by Washington was Pavlo Palisa, a military adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a former commander of Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade.

Palisa had not publicly provided a detailed account of the reported conversation at the time of publication.

The White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls described by the Financial Times. No formal decision suspending PURL deliveries or intelligence cooperation had been publicly announced.

Why PURL matters for Ukraine’s defense

PURL stands for the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List. The NATO-managed initiative allows Ukraine’s allies to finance packages of US-made weapons and ammunition identified as urgent priorities by Kyiv.

Under the mechanism, Ukraine submits its most pressing military requirements. The United States then assembles packages of available equipment, while participating NATO allies and other partners provide the necessary funding.

NATO coordinates the procurement and delivery process. Although the United States does not directly finance the fund, Washington’s approval, export authorizations, weapons inventories and logistical support remain essential to the program.

NATO says allied countries had committed more than $6 billion for US-sourced military equipment through PURL by June 2026, with deliveries already underway.

The program includes scarce and highly sought-after systems such as Patriot air defense interceptors, long-range artillery ammunition and other advanced weapons produced in the United States.

Ukraine relies heavily on Patriot missiles to defend cities and critical infrastructure against ballistic missiles, which are difficult for many other air defense systems to intercept. Any disruption to the PURL program could therefore affect Kyiv’s ability to respond to continuing Russian aerial attacks.

Pressure centers on Russian refineries

The Trump administration’s reported demand focuses on Ukrainian attacks against Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities.

Kyiv describes the refineries as part of Russia’s military logistics and war economy, arguing that the facilities provide fuel for Russian forces and generate revenue that helps finance the war.

Ukraine has used long-range drones to strike refineries, fuel depots and other energy-related targets inside Russia. Ukrainian officials have presented those operations as one of the few available ways to increase the economic cost of the invasion and weaken Russian military supply chains.

The Trump administration argues that the attacks have reduced Russian diesel production and contributed to pressure on international fuel markets.

Washington has sought to limit rising energy prices and facilitate the return of Russian diesel supplies to the global market, according to reports about the administration’s discussions with Moscow.

Energy specialists have said Ukrainian strikes may affect the market but are not the only cause of higher diesel prices. Supply risks in the Middle East, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, low global inventories and reduced exports from other producers have also influenced prices.

The possibility that Washington could use weapons and intelligence support to pressure Kyiv has intensified debate over whether Ukraine is being asked to make a unilateral military concession without an equivalent commitment from Russia.

Trump’s energy ceasefire surprised Kyiv

US President Donald Trump announced on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.

Trump said on Truth Social that an “energy ceasefire” had taken effect immediately and that both sides had accepted it. He did not publish a jointly signed agreement, a list of protected facilities or a system for monitoring alleged violations.

Zelenskyy initially told Axios that he was unaware of a completed agreement but would support a reciprocal ceasefire if Russia also accepted and observed it.

The Ukrainian president later said the country’s armed forces had received all necessary orders. He added that Kyiv was awaiting clear details about the talks between Washington and Moscow and expected Russian President Vladimir Putin to honor the commitment described by Trump.

A senior Ukrainian official close to Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that officials in Kyiv had not heard about the ceasefire before Trump announced it.

The conflicting statements raised questions about whether Ukraine, Russia and the United States shared the same understanding of the arrangement and when it was supposed to take effect.

Russian attacks continued after announcement

Several hours after Trump announced the energy ceasefire, Russia carried out further attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, according to Ukrainian officials.

Zelenskyy said a Russian Shahed-type drone struck a power station in Kyiv, causing electricity outages in several districts of the capital. Energy facilities in the Kharkiv region were targeted later, including Kharkiv CHP-5.

Ukraine described the attacks as violations of the ceasefire announced by Trump. Russia had not officially confirmed an agreement to suspend energy strikes at the time the Financial Times and Deutsche Welle published their reports.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed the concept of an energy ceasefire but said there was no evidence that it was being observed on the ground.

The White House also did not answer questions about whether Trump would support Zelenskyy’s proposal for a broader 60-day ceasefire. Zelenskyy has said such a pause would allow Ukraine to begin the process required to organize elections.

The absence of published terms has made it difficult to determine which facilities are covered, when the arrangement formally began and how responsibility for alleged violations would be established.

A suspension could weaken Ukraine’s air defenses

Blocking PURL deliveries could have immediate consequences for Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities and critical infrastructure, particularly against ballistic missiles and large-scale drone attacks.

Patriot interceptor missiles are produced in limited numbers and are in high demand among US allies. Ukraine uses the interceptors regularly as Russia launches missiles and drones against power stations, residential areas and other targets.

A suspension of intelligence sharing could create additional risks. US intelligence helps Ukraine monitor incoming threats, assess Russian military movements and plan operations against targets far behind the front line.

It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will carry out the reported threat. The White House has not confirmed the Financial Times report, and no official suspension of previously announced PURL packages has been disclosed.

The warning nevertheless highlights a widening disagreement between Washington and Kyiv. Ukraine views attacks on Russian refineries as a legitimate means of weakening Moscow’s war capacity, while the Trump administration is prioritizing energy prices and a negotiated halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.

The dispute also places European governments in a difficult position. They finance much of the PURL program but depend on US approval and American weapons production to keep the supply mechanism operating.

The next steps will depend on whether Washington formally links military assistance to an end to Ukrainian refinery attacks and whether Russia agrees to a reciprocal, verifiable halt to strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

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