US to share intelligence with Ukraine on long-range energy targets in Russia: Reports

As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to intensify, reports are emerging that the United States would provide Ukraine with intelligence on long-range energy infrastructure that is deep inside Russia. The news was reported by several American news outlets, with many calling it a move that would signal a significant shift in the White House’s support for Kyiv.

It is also one of the first actions by the White House after US President Donald Trump proclaimed that “Ukraine could win back all the territory occupied by Russia.” Citing multiple sources, both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported that the policy had quietly changed before Trump’s statement, and that the White House wanted Nato allies to follow suit.

However, it remains unclear when the Trump administration plans to provide new information to Kyiv. Many also saw the leak as a ploy to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a ceasefire as Trump grows impatient with Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities.

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Apart from this, no decision has been made on whether the US will supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Earlier this week, US Vice President JD Vance said that Trump was considering a request from Kyiv for the missiles, which have a range of 1,500 miles.

Why it matters

It is pertinent to note that Western, particularly the American, intelligence on Russia in the form of satellite imagery and other monitoring data, is considered a significant help in permitting the accurate targeting of facilities deep inside Russia’s borders. A focus on energy targets such as oil refineries would allow Ukraine to extend an already successful campaign that has hit 21 out of 38 refineries with long-range drone strikes.

These attacks have already led to significant fuel shortages in several parts of Russia. On some days, it has been estimated that daily production is down by a fifth, The Guardian reported. Meanwhile, Russia seems not flustered by the reports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “The US transmits intelligence to Ukraine regularly online. The supply and use of the entire infrastructure of NATO and the US to collect and transfer intelligence to Ukrainians is obvious.” Peskov went on to warn the White House that the delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles would mark a “new serious round of tension that will require an adequate response from the Russian side”, though he said there was “no magic weapon for the Kyiv regime” that could win the war.

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Meanwhile, Putin said in a televised address on Thursday that he was seeking a full restoration of relations with the US and blamed Europe for prolonging the war in Ukraine. Putin said Russia was observing Europe’s “militarisation” and he vowed there would be a “significant” response if Russia’s sovereignty was violated.

Trump’s recent change of heart

Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Trump proclaimed that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, referring to Moscow as 'Paper Tiger'.

“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” he wrote on his social media platform TruthSocial.

However, Trump’s attitude towards intelligence sharing with Ukraine has remained dicey and changes periodically since he returned to the White House. The US and Russia have regularly gone through rounds of tension over the supply of weapons and intelligence to Kyiv. Last September, Putin warned that Russia could use a nuclear weapon in retaliation if it was struck with a massive launch of missiles, aircraft or drones.

Shortly after this, Trump had a public row with Zelenskyy in the White House at the end of February. The US eventually paused all intelligence sharing with Kyiv for a week in March. This led to Ukraine taking rapid losses on the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region before Trump relented after pressure from Western allies.