Ukraine halts strikes on Russian refineries after Trump pressure

Ukraine has paused its strikes on Russian oil refineries following pressure from US President Donald Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, citing sources with knowledge of the operations. Ukrainian long-range strike units were told in mid-October to halt the refinery campaign once ongoing missions were completed, with the unofficial pause expected to last until after the US midterm elections and potentially into November. Russia has simultaneously escalated attacks on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure, including a drone strike on a train station that killed 13 people. The pause comes as Trump, frustrated by record-high diesel prices and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, has moved to buy diesel from Moscow and waive sanctions. Relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have deteriorated sharply, though Ukraine had previously refused to halt strikes, calling its drone campaign its only viable response to Russian bombardment. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.