The Ukrainian military has halted attacks on Russian oil refineries following pressure from US President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the operations. The unofficial pause began at the start of last week.
According to the reports, the pause is expected to last until the end of the US mid-term elections, and possibly longer. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the claims.
Trump told the media outlet Newsmax that it was a shame that Ukraine had resumed attacks on Russian refineries. He emphasised that the attacks were keeping global energy prices high. "All he is doing is raising the price of oil in the world. Well, I think that is a shame," Trump said in an interview with Newsmax two weeks ago.
Trump added: "There are many targets you can hit, but when you are hitting refineries that produce diesel fuel, which is needed by us and the world, then he is not doing the world any service".
Ukraine attacked a Russian oil refinery after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv was abandoning the ceasefire regarding energy facilities. That ceasefire for energy facilities had previously been announced by Trump. Zelensky criticised Trump's willingness to reach an agreement with Moscow.
Ukraine struck a Rosneft refinery south-east of Moscow, which helps supply the Russian capital.
