Russia Attacks American Companies in Ukraine, US Remains Silent
The New York Times reported on May 12 that Russian strikes have hit facilities tied to Cargill, Coca-Cola, Boeing, Mondelez, Philip Morris, Flex Ltd., and Bunge in Ukraine since summer 2025, with the Cargill and Coca-Cola attacks not previously disclosed. The Trump administration has publicly condemned none of the attacks, with NYT sources saying Washington's response was limited to acknowledging concerns. A State Department spokesperson told the Times that Washington had urged both sides to refrain from targeting American business interests. Ukraine's ambassador
Russia's systematic targeting of U.S. commercial facilities since summer 2025 has exposed a structural asymmetry in Washington's posture: the administration actively shielded American business interests inside Russia, requesting Kyiv spare a Black Sea terminal serving U.S. shareholders, while publicly defending none of those interests in Ukraine. Moscow appears to be probing whether attacking U.S.-linked assets carries a diplomatic cost; the answer from Washington has so far been no. We assess Russia will likely continue and expand targeting of U.S.-affiliated commercial infrastructure in Ukraine through the end of 2026, absent a credible deterrent response from Washington. Sustained U.S. silence creates a replicable template for other authoritarian actors assessing whether economic coercion against American commercial interests abroad carries consequences.
4 sources
- Russia deliberately attacks American companies in Ukraine, US is silent - NYT -
Censor.net - Russia Keeps Attacking U.S. Firms in Ukraine. The White House Is Silent. -
New York Times - White House stays silent on Russian strikes against U.S. firms in Ukraine -
New Voice of Ukraine - Putin is 'directly and purposefully' attacking US businesses in Ukraine: Democratic senators -
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