US threatens to cut Ukraine intel, weapons over strikes on Russian energy
The U.S. warned Ukraine it could lose American intel and arms if it keeps hitting Russian energy sites, CNN reported. The warnings came as President Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" on Sunday. A cutoff would hurt Ukraine's supply of Patriot missiles the most.
The Trump administration has warned Ukraine and its European allies that the U.S. could stop sharing intelligence and block weapons purchases for Kyiv unless Ukraine halts its deep strikes on Russian energy sites. CNN reported the warnings Sunday, citing two European officials.
The warnings came from the State Department and the Pentagon over the weekend, CNN reported. Some went straight from the U.S. military to Ukrainian commanders. U.S. officials passed them on in calls to Kyiv and European capitals on Oct. 10 and 11, the Financial Times reported, according to the Kyiv Independent.
The weapons at stake are bought for Ukraine through a program called the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL. Cutting it off would hurt shipments of Patriot air defense missiles the most, CNN reported. Ukraine is already short of them. U.S. intelligence also helps Ukraine track Russian missile launchers and incoming strikes.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an "energy ceasefire." "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side," Zelenskyy wrote on X. His office had said it knew of no deal, and Russia then struck a power plant in Kharkiv, The Kyiv Independent reported.
A European official called the threat a "sad day" for Kyiv and its allies, CNN reported. The White House declined to confirm or comment on the calls, the Financial Times reported, according to the Kyiv Independent. NATO had not seen any change to the PURL program over the weekend, another official told CNN.
Trump has blamed the war for high diesel prices, which the U.S. war with Iran has also driven up. The U.S. last cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March 2025, after a tense Oval Office meeting, and later restored it.
What we know: European officials say the U.S. threatened to cut intelligence and weapons purchases unless Ukraine stops hitting Russian energy sites.
What we don't: Whether the U.S. will follow through, and whether Ukraine will halt its strikes.
Where outlets agree CNN and the Kyiv Independent both report that the U.S. threatened to suspend intelligence sharing and weapons purchases for Ukraine over its strikes on Russian energy sites.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.