30.10.2026 11:38
According to The Wall Street Journal, citing knowledgeable sources, Ukraine has suspended its attacks on Russian oil refineries after weeks of pressure from US President Donald Trump. It was reported that the attacks were informally halted at the beginning of last week and that this situation is expected to continue until after the US midterm elections, probably until mid-November.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- According to The Wall Street Journal, Ukraine has suspended its attacks on Russian oil refineries.
The newspaper's Thursday report, citing sources familiar with the matter, said that weeks of pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump had undermined Kyiv's confidence in U.S. support and that this was a factor in stopping the attacks.
According to the report, the attacks were informally halted at the beginning of last week, when the crisis in U.S.-Ukraine relations reached its peak. This situation is expected to continue until after the U.S. midterm elections and possibly until mid-November.
TRUMP HAD CALLED FOR ZELENSKYY'S REMOVAL
Earlier this month, Trump called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be removed from office. At a press conference held at the White House, Trump, alleging that Zelenskyy had caused disruptions in global diesel fuel supply by attacking Russian refineries, said, "I think it is time for Ukraine to get a new president."
Trump said, "Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel worldwide. Zelenskyy's attacks mean that our citizens engaged in farming and livestock breeding are having problems with diesel fuel."
STARLINK ACCESS WAS ALSO RESTRICTED
Elon Musk's SpaceX company also last week restricted Ukraine's access to the company's Starlink satellite internet service. In a statement on the social media platform X on Saturday, Musk said, "Starlink, a civilian commercial service, has never been and should never be allowed to be used in drone attacks in which people are killed."
It was emphasized that when Trump was re-elected last year, he cut most of the U.S. military and financial aid provided to Kyiv, but Ukraine's continued dependence on Starlink, U.S. intelligence sharing, and Patriot missile defense systems left the country vulnerable to U.S. pressure.
Earlier this month, the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Russia's diesel fuel exports. Under this plan, Russia will deliver 2.25 million barrels in October, 3.75 million barrels in November, and 7.5 million barrels in the immediately following period to the U.S. and the global market, depending on the condition of its refineries.