US did not threaten to cut off aid to Ukraine during talks, but asked it to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, - Reuters

During a meeting in Miami on 9 October, US President’s Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner explained to Ukrainian officials that the agreement on Russian diesel fuel was intended to bring Moscow back to the negotiating table. At the same time, there were no threats to suspend US aid.

This is reported by Reuters, citing three informed sources, according to Censor.NET.

What the Americans said

According to the agency, Witkoff and Kushner told the Ukrainians that Putin is not ready to negotiate an end to the war, and that the diesel deal announced last week could help resume the trilateral talks.

A third source clarified that the US had indicated the diesel deal could "soften" Moscow’s stance, partly because it "sends a signal that Trump is open to do things" with regard to Russia.

"The idea was that the US could go back to Russia and say ‘See, the Ukrainians stopped striking and we gave you this deal. Now it’s your turn to do something,’" one of the sources explained.

Requests to halt strikes on oil refineries

According to two people, Kushner emphasised at the meeting that the administration had already asked Ukraine several times to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries.

At the same time, the Americans – as claimed by two informed sources and a participant in the meeting – did not threaten to cut off military and intelligence support if Ukraine did not stop the strikes on oil refineries. Witkoff and Kushner, they said, reminded the Ukrainian side of "everything the US has done for Ukraine".

Kyiv’s scepticism

Ukrainian officials present at the meeting were sceptical of the American approach, viewing it as an attempt to appease Russia through business deals.

A source close to the Kremlin told the agency that Putin would only return to the negotiating table once he "secures the remaining 11 per cent of Donbas", which he could present to his domestic audience as a victory. Ukraine states that it will not cede any more territory to Russia, but a freeze on the conflict along the front line could form the basis of a peace agreement, the publication adds.

Details of the meeting in Miami

The meeting in Miami lasted several hours; European officials were also present, whilst representatives of the World Bank joined virtually. Part of the discussion centred on funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction and Kyiv’s need to formalise its investment plans. According to one participant, security guarantees for Ukraine were also discussed, though he did not provide any details.

Ukraine left the meeting without any formal agreements, but made it clear that it was prepared to agree to an energy truce if Russia did the same.

The US-Russia diesel deal and threats to Ukraine

On 9 October, US President Donald Trump stated that he had held talks with Russian dictator Putin, with whom he had agreed on the supply of diesel fuel from Russia to US and global markets.
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, US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner allegedly warned the Ukrainian side that access to US intelligence might be cut off if Ukraine continued to strike Russian oil refineries.
On 11 October, President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would be prepared to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia ceased its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
On the same day, US President Donald Trump announced the start of an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia.
In comments to Axios, Zelenskyy said that US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the start of an ‘energy truce’ came as a surprise to the Ukrainian side.
Later, the president stated that Ukraine was prepared to refrain from striking at Russian energy infrastructure, provided that Russia took similar steps.