According to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a Ukrainian drone strike on an internationally operated oil pumping station in Russia was an attack against United States companies. It also puts President Donald Trump’s agenda at risk, turning Kiev into an enemy of the West.

The Kropotkinskaya station, which was struck by Ukrainian drones on Monday morning, is part of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). This consortium includes major American companies Chevron and ExxonMobil, which transport oil from western Kazakhstan along with Russian products. The CPC reported a reduction in pumping capacity due to the attack.

The strike on the Kropotkinskaya station came just a day before high-level talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, aimed at improving bilateral relations and potentially forging a peace deal in the Ukraine conflict – which Trump pledged to do during the 2024 presidential campaign. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has preemptively rejected any agreements made without Kyiv’s input. -RT

Medvedev likened the incident to a farm animal biting its owner’s hand and being forced to decide whether or not to put the animal down.  ”Trump has publicly declared his intention to lower oil prices. An attack on the oil consortium risks halting deliveries, destabilizing the market, increasing price volatility, and directly harming American companies,” he stated. “The CPC attack represents a triple blow to American businesses, the oil market, and Trump himself.”

The Trump administration is attempting to shift the burden of Ukrainian security onto America’s European allies after a truce with Russia is reached. It also seeks to recoup U.S. funds spent on the conflict by gaining privileged access to mineral resources controlled by Ukraine. European Union officials criticized Washington for this during last week’s Munich Security Conference.

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Kiev has also stated that it will not take part in the U.S.-Russia negotiations in Riyadh and considers them meaningless. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said that he expects “no results” from the talks and that “Ukraine will not participate,” adding that Kiev “didn’t know anything” about the negotiations.

It doesn’t look like Kiev is invited to participate any longer. However, it does still want to keep some kind of a hot war raging with Russia. What do you think? Will Trump be able to help end this war? Or will Kiev shoot itself in the proverbial foot trying to fight Russia without help from the U.S.?