Ukraine Would Cease Energy Strikes For US Targeting Aid, GOP Senator Says
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer claims Ukraine would stop attacking Russian energy sites in exchange for U.S. targeting support.
3 min read
Republican North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer claimed Sunday that Ukraine would halt strikes on Russian energy sites in exchange for U.S. targeting assistance, according to a recent interview with CBS News. Cramer told Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed enthusiasm for the proposal, which Cramer presented during a recent visit to Ukraine.
“When you were in Ukraine, as I understand it, you were presenting a proposal to President Zelenskyy to allow for Starshield access expansion if Ukraine stops striking Russian energy assets. What can you tell us about that proposal and what is the status of it?” Brennan asked.
Cramer confirmed the proposal was brought to Zelenskyy by Republican Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the Armed Services Committee. Zelenskyy, according to Cramer, was “enthusiastic” and said he would stop attacks on Russian energy sites in exchange for enhanced targeting capabilities provided by Starshield, a satellite network operated by SpaceX.
“President Zelenskyy was enthusiastic about it. He said, ‘I’d do that tomorrow,’” Cramer said. “He said Zelenskyy would halt strikes on Russian energy sites in exchange for the targeting capabilities Starshield provides to go deep into Russia and attack their attackers. In other words, their launch facilities. And, you know, kill the archer, not the arrows.”
Cramer also mentioned Zelenskyy asked for a license to co-produce Patriot missile interceptors. “So his requests were three, they were simple, and I agree with all three of them,” Cramer said.
“Russia has chosen to go after civilian populations, while President Zelenskyy has simply gone after, you know, the launchers and, more importantly, these— you know, the war machine’s funding source, which is energy,” he added.
Brennan then noted that Ukraine had resumed hitting Russian oil refineries overnight, while Russia has targeted energy infrastructure inside Ukraine, and asked who in the Trump administration was trying to bring the war to a close.
Cramer said he had not spoken with Rubio about his exchange with Zelenskyy and that Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also involved. The senator then admitted he worries about “a disconnect,” such as “traditional, mutually beneficial negotiations between business people and the difference between somebody protecting humanity itself versus somebody who wants to take humanity down.”
“But at the end of the day, I think the president is, you know, he’s— it’s where the buck stops, and I think he accepts that,” he stated.
Asked whether Sen. Wicker was presenting the deal to the White House, Cramer responded, “Oh, yes. Yes. Yes, for sure. I mean we had talked to people in the White House, at the Department of War, and to the State Department, even prior to meeting with President Zelenskyy.”
Fact 1: President Trump wants Ukraine to stop attacking Russian petroleum infrastructure. Fact 2: President Zelenskyy wants access to U.S. targeting assistance to stop Russian missiles from being launched at Ukrainian civilians from inside Russia. Fact 3: President Zelenskyy has…
Earlier in the interview, Cramer said that, while he shares the positions of Republican colleagues who criticized Trump’s waiver of Russia sanctions, he notes the cost of diesel fuel is “really an important issue here in North Dakota.” Cramer also said European allies “have been buying energy from Vladimir Putin and funding his war machine for decades. And they should stop right now,” before stating he expects the waiver to be “a short-term pause.”
Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving sanctions for buyers of Russian energy as well as tariffs required under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he signed into law Sept. 18.
Source: Daily Caller
