US is threatening to block PURL arms procurement programme if Ukraine does not stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, – FT

The administration of US President Donald Trump is threatening to block the PURL programme, through which Ukraine procures American weapons, unless Kyiv refrains from striking Russian oil refineries.

This is reported by the Financial Times, citing European officials, according to Censor.NET.

Threats of restrictions

According to sources, US officials rang Kyiv and European capitals on 10 and 11 October, lobbying for an end to strikes on oil refineries following Trump’s diesel deal with Putin.

Washington’s warning included threats to halt the exchange of intelligence with Ukraine and suspend the PURL mechanism.

"They’re phoning Kyiv, they’re phoning everyone in Europe," said a European official quoted by the FT.

The publication reports that among the officials contacted by representatives of the Trump administration was Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

The White House declined to confirm or comment on these calls.

What led up to this?

On 9 October, US President Donald Trump stated that he had spoken with Russian dictator Putin, with whom he had agreed on the supply of diesel fuel from Russia to markets in the US and around the world.
According to him, Russia will "immediately" supply over 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets, a further 500,000 tonnes in November, and another million tonnes "immediately afterwards".
The US Treasury Department announced that, on Trump’s instructions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control is immediately issuing a temporary general licence to permit the supply of Russian diesel fuel to the global market.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia’s authorisation to sell petroleum products as an "investment in war" and called on the US to hold firm talks with Moscow and impose sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Act.
Axios reported that during talks in Miami, U.S. President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner allegedly warned

the Ukrainian side that access to U.S. intelligence could be cut off if Ukraine continued to strike Russian oil refineries.
On October 11, President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would be prepared to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia stopped striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
That same day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the start of an "energy truce" between Ukraine and Russia.
In comments to Axios, Zelenskyy said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an "energy truce" came as a surprise to the Ukrainian side.
Later, the president stated that Ukraine is prepared to refrain from striking Russian energy facilities provided that Russia takes similar steps.