The United States has strongly urged Ukraine to cease its attacks on Russian oil refineries amid escalating tensions between the two countries. The request is being made at a time when military confrontations between the two countries are intensifying and pose a threat to the already unstable situation in Eastern Europe.
Earlier in March Ukraine hit several Russian energy facilities, as Reuters wrote, “Ukrainian drone attacks on at least seven refineries amounts to about 4.6 million tons (370,500 barrels per day), or some 7% of the total,” which also hurt the global energy market and led to an increase in oil prices.
The U.S. has stressed the significance of de-escalating tensions and locating diplomatic solutions to resolve the conflict in response to the worsening circumstances. In a statement released on behalf of the American government, Secretary of State Blinken pleaded with all sides to use caution and abstain from taking any further steps that might inflame the situation.
The Financial Times reported that “warnings from Washington were delivered to senior officials at Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU, and its military intelligence directorate, known as the GUR.”
At the same time Ukrainian officials claimed that “the country is well within its rights to target Moscow’s lucrative fossil fuels industry,” POLITICO wrote. Additional reports reveal that over the past year, sea drones operated by Ukrainian Intelligence agencies have targeted Russian ports.
To prevent further escalation and maintain regional stability, the international community is vigilantly monitoring developments and advocating for peaceful solutions as diplomatic efforts to navigate the complex dynamics of the Ukraine-Russia conflict continue.
