Report: US threatens to halt Ukraine arms purchases over strikes on Russian energy
According to the Financial Times, Washington threatened to suspend the PURL mechanism and stop sharing intelligence unless Kyiv halts strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Archive image · Photo: Dati Bendo / European Union, 2025 / EC - Audiovisual Service / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The US administration has threatened Ukraine with suspending a key mechanism for buying weapons unless Kyiv stops striking Russian energy infrastructure, the Financial Times reported. The mechanism is the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), through which US weapons are purchased for Ukraine. Washington also threatened to stop sharing intelligence, the paper said. The warnings were conveyed in calls to Kyiv and European capitals on Oct. 10 and 11, according to the newspaper, citing unnamed European officials. The White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls.
The background is Trump's criticism of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, which, according to reports cited by the Kyiv Independent, have cut Russia's refining capacity by 45 percent. Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine would stop attacking Russian oil only as part of an energy ceasefire. Igor Ananskikh, first deputy chair of the Russian State Duma's energy committee, questioned Trump's announcement of such a ceasefire, telling the outlet Ostorozhno Novosti: "We all know that Trump often says things to keep oil prices from rising."
In an interview with ABC News, Zelensky also reaffirmed that he would be ready for elections under a ceasefire. Addressing Washington, he said: "please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days off. Total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections." Ukrainian law prohibits elections while martial law is in force. Trump had earlier said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president.