Trump sees the purpose of Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries as weakening the position of Republicans in the US elections US President Donald Trump believes that Ukraine's attacks on oil refineries in Russia are also intended to worsen the chances of the Republican Party in the US midterm elections on November 3, the "Atlantic" reported on Wednesday, citing sources. "According to three people close to Trump, he has convinced himself that the Ukrainian attacks on the refinery are aimed in part at undermining Republican prospects in November and are therefore also aimed at Trump," the paper notes.