Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that limits on a U.S. military satellite system and on American intelligence sharing are hampering his country's defenses, and that Washington has not explained why.3,4,5
Zelensky made the claims on a virtual call with a bipartisan group of senators hosted by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), according to The Hill and Axios. Axios obtained a transcript of the call from Ukrainian officials. Zelensky said Elon Musk's Starlink and the U.S. military's Starshield satellite systems remain partially restricted, despite White House claims to the contrary. He also said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not signing off on the delivery of Patriot interceptors and AIM-9x missiles for the NASAMS air-defense system, even though NATO countries have already paid for them.4,5
France 24 reported that Zelensky said frontline units had told him the Starshield equipment "stops functioning at speeds of 130-160 kilometres (80-100 miles) per hour in various sectors of the front." France 24 said the restrictions were slowing Ukrainian forces' ability to coordinate drone strikes against Russian forces. Axios, citing the transcript, quoted Zelensky saying the limits were hampering Ukraine's ability to shoot down Russian attack drones. The accounts differ on which drone operations are affected.3,5
Zelensky also said Ukraine did not receive early warnings from the United States about Russian ballistic missile attacks on three occasions in the past week, including on Sunday. He suggested this was a sign that intelligence sharing had been curbed. "We have received no clear explanation from Washington – why this is happening," he said, according to Axios.5
"We still have no explanation for this. Just different strange stories we're hearing, unfortunately," Zelensky told the senators, Axios reported. "We have almost no Patriot interceptors left from the U.S. partners," he said. "All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down support for us," Zelensky added. "We want to understand what is happening, why it's happening, and where all of this is heading."5
Trump and White House officials have denied for several days that they have imposed any restrictions on Ukraine, Axios reported. On Monday, Trump told reporters that the United States is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine. He said he did not know who ordered the throttling of the Starlink satellite system. "But I am gonna find out," he said.5
Trump also criticized Zelensky's approach to the war. "Frankly Zelensky is not helping matters much. He doesn't want to stop the war. Zelensky doesn't know what he is talking about," the president said. "Maybe it's time for Zelensky to let somebody else negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. … We have given a lot to Ukraine. They have given nothing to us."5
The dispute traces back about ten days, to when Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia during negotiations between his envoys and Ukrainian officials in Miami. Ukrainian officials have claimed that the U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, threatened that Trump could cut off Ukraine from U.S. intelligence and stop selling it weapons if Kyiv continued to ignore requests not to target Russian oil refineries. U.S. officials denied making any such threat. According to Axios, they said Witkoff and Kushner told the Ukrainians that the United States was a strong partner, providing munitions and intelligence, and that Ukraine should not take actions that hurt American consumers.5
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Zelensky told senators that Ukraine still does not have full access to the Starshield network or U.S. intelligence sharing, The Hill reported. Blumenthal said afterward that "bipartisan support for Ukraine was clear and unequivocal, which we'll be expressing in upcoming action." He added, "Appeasement won't work with Putin, a thug who understands only strength and force." Tillis said after the meeting that Congress "remains committed to standing with Ukraine and our European allies to end Russia's brutal aggression and secure lasting peace."4,5
Zelensky told the senators that he had proposed to the U.S. envoys that Ukraine halt strikes on Russian refineries for 30 days. In return, the United States would supply Ukraine with Patriot interceptors to defend against Russian ballistic missiles during that period. Zelensky said Witkoff and Kushner had not shown any openness to the idea. He spoke with the envoys on Sunday, and Ukrainian officials said they again asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.5
Zelensky told the senators he will be in Oslo, Norway, next week and could meet Witkoff and Kushner on Tuesday or Wednesday. A source familiar with the matter told Axios that the envoys could then continue from Oslo to Moscow to meet Putin.5
