Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Donald Trump of pressuring Kyiv to surrender to Russia, escalating tensions between the US and Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Trump’s actions, including slowing Starlink internet speeds and delaying Patriot missile deliveries, aim to convince Ukraine to capitulate. He offered to halt strikes on Russian diesel refineries in exchange for more Patriot systems to protect Ukrainian infrastructure.
Zelenskyy warned of dangerous days ahead of the November 3 US midterms, noting that relations with Washington have reached a new low. He cited deliberate slowing of Starlink speeds, crucial for Ukrainian troops, and delayed interceptors for Patriot systems defending against Russian ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy referenced a Trump-Putin deal where the US refrains from tightening sanctions on Russia for limited diesel supplies to curb global prices.
He criticized Trump’s waiver of part of the Lindsey Graham sanctions law, drawing blowback from Trump’s own party. Zelenskyy expressed hope that US-Ukraine relations may improve after the midterms, calling current tensions "agony" but expecting calm post-election. Ukraine has said it would stop targeting Russian refineries if Russia halts attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, though both sides continue striking energy facilities.
Russian attacks on substations left tens of thousands without power, while Ukraine resumed refinery strikes after testing a Trump-announced "energy ceasefire." Zelenskyy blamed White House authorities for the Starlink slowdown, citing speeds capped at 161 km/h in Ukraine, while Russian drones travel at ~400 km/h.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing