Trump’s Ex-Envoy Says Ukraine Should Be Free to Strike Russia

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Ex-Envoy Backs Ukrainian Strikes on Russia

   Donald Trump's former envoy has publicly supported allowing Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia, directly contradicting Trump's previous calls to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. The former envoy stated that Ukrainians should be permitted to do what they have proven very good at doing as the conflict drags on. Meanwhile, separate reporting notes that Russian oil terminals continue to burn following reported Ukrainian drone strikes, and Ukrainian forces continue using precision drone tactics to hobble Russian infrastructure despite ongoing diplomatic tensions and potential future deals involving the White House.

   Why it matters

   The remarks highlight internal divisions or differing viewpoints regarding strategy toward the ongoing war in Ukraine, especially given Donald Trump's return to the presidency following his 2024 election victory. Trump previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 before winning his current term as the 47th president. Observers and policymakers are closely watching how U.S. policy under Trump will balance potential deals with Russian leadership against Ukraine's military tactics and deep-strike campaigns.

   What is confirmed

   • Donald John Trump is the 47th president of the United States and previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
   • Trump's former envoy backed Kyiv's deep-strike campaign despite Trump's call to halt attacks on Russian refineries.

   Still unconfirmed

   • A deal between Trump and Putin will not deter Zelensky from playing his strongest card.

   What to watch next

   • Any official policy statements from the White House regarding restrictions on Ukrainian deep-strike operations.
   • Developments in Rostov oil terminals and the continuation of precision drone strikes by Ukrainian forces.
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. www.theguardian.com — Donald Trump - The Guardian
   2. www.whitehouse.gov — President Donald J. Trump - The White House
   3. en.wikipedia.org — Donald Trump - Wikipedia
   4. www.unitedforpeace.org — The Ukraine crisis: commentary, responses, and background - United For Peace and Justice
   5. The Telegraph — Trump’s deal with Putin will not deter Zelensky from playing his strongest card
   6. The Washington Post — How Ukraine uses precision drone strikes to hobble Russian oil refineries
   7. The Moscow Times — Rostov Oil Terminal Burns for Third Day After Reported Ukrainian Drone Attack
   8. Bloomberg.com — Trump’s Ex-Envoy Says Ukraine Should Be Free to Strike Russia
   9. Kyiv Post — ‘You’re Not Winning This Fight’: Kellogg Says Putin Shows Weakness as War Drags On
   10. www.newsweek.com — Trump’s support suffers complete reversal with Republicans
   11. united24media.com — “Let Ukrainians Do What They’ve Been Very Good At”: Trump’s Ex-Envoy Backs Strikes on Russia — UNITED24 Media
   confidence 90%