President Trump’s new diplomatic crisis over Ukraine erupted at Steve Witkoff’s exclusive golf club outside Miami on Friday, where senior Ukrainian and European officials met with Trump’s peace envoys, Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Americans announced a suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel fuel and demanded Ukraine stop attacking Russian oil refineries. When Ukrainians asked what they would get in return, officials said the U.S. was already doing a lot and should not have to trade for Ukraine to halt its attacks, citing intelligence assistance as vital support—though some interpreted this as a veiled threat to withhold such aid.
A U.S. official denied any threat but acknowledged Trump’s growing anger with Ukraine made his actions unpredictable. The dispute has become the biggest Washington-Kyiv crisis since last year’s Oval Office blowup, with U.S. support for Ukraine again hanging in the balance. Trump’s push to lower energy prices before the midterms has destabilized fragile peace talks, and Witkoff and Kushner have postponed their planned trip to Russia until Zelensky mends fences with Trump.
Ukraine views refinery attacks as its most effective counter to Russia’s bombardment of its energy grid, while Zelensky has said Ukraine would stop if Russia did the same—though Russia has refused. Trump called Zelensky’s actions a threat to farmers and ranchers amid rising diesel costs tied partly to the Iran conflict, and claimed on social media an “ENERGY CEASEFIRE” had been agreed, though neither side confirmed it. European and Ukrainian leaders expressed skepticism Russia would comply, especially after Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure followed the announcement.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing