Washington urged Kyiv to cease drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, cautioning that the attacks risk driving up global oil prices, the FT reported Friday.
Despite sanctions, Russia remains one of the world's most important energy exporters, and the White House is concerned that such strikes could result in retaliatory attacks on Western energy infrastructure, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Ukraine's energy grid began receiving urgent assistance from abroad Friday after a series of Russia air strikes damaged energy facilities, leaving more than 1 million people without power.
The country's occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — the largest in Europe — was on the verge of blackout after Moscow struck a nearby hydroelectric dam. Russian management said main power line was later restored.
Meantime, European Union leaders on Thursday agreed in principle to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund also approved a third review of Ukraine's $15.6 billion loan program, allowing the embattled country to draw budget support of $880 million.