Eish, things are getting hectic! Recent reports suggest the United States is providing Ukraine with intelligence to plan long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Yes, you read that right! According to the Financial Times, this coordination, which the U.S. hasn't openly admitted, aims to weaken Russia's economy and pressure President Vladimir Putin into peace talks.
How Deep Does This Go?
Sources claim the intelligence helps Ukraine's military determine the best flight paths, altitudes, and timing for their drones to dodge Russian air defenses. Apparently, Washington is closely involved in every stage of strike planning. One U.S. official mentioned that Kyiv chooses the targets, but Washington provides intel on their vulnerabilities. But another source suggests that U.S. intelligence helps identify high-priority targets.
Trump's Role in All of This?
Even with President Trump's talk of brokering a peace deal, this intelligence sharing reportedly ramped up after a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump supposedly signaled support for making Russia “feel the pain” to push them to the negotiating table.
Ukraine's Response
Since August, Ukraine has increased its drone attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities. Bloomberg estimates that about one in three Russian refineries have been hit. Imagine the impact! At least four major refineries partially or fully halted operations after drone strikes in September.
The Bigger Picture
Meanwhile, Russia has been attacking Ukraine's power grid, trying to cripple their energy infrastructure before winter. It's a tough situation all around. Russia's defence ministry even announced taking control of two villages in eastern Ukraine. This conflict is far from over, and the stakes are high!
- US providing intelligence for drone strikes.
- Targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
- Effort to weaken Russia and force peace talks.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds!