‘Historic mistake’: Zelensky warns US against siding with Putin, says he still wants to trust Trump
WASHINGTON, DC: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced growing concern over recent developments that are straining ties between Kyiv and Washington. He has repeatedly sought to convey his message to the world and Capitol Hill through posts on X and frequent interviews.
The ongoing standoff between the US and Ukraine largely revolves around President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia, his decision to waive certain sanctions under the Graham Act, and restrictions on Starlink that have affected Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian attacks.
Zelensky says he wants to trust Trump amid US ‘historic mistake’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday, Oct 18, where he warned that the US formally siding with Russia’s Vladimir Putin would be a “historic mistake",
However, he said he still considers President Donald Trump an ally despite a series of decisions that have unsettled Kyiv and its supporters on Capitol Hill.
“We want to trust him,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Trump. “I hope that he will change his decisions, because I think that it’s all mistakes, and it will not help us, and it will not help United States.”
Zelenskyy’s remarks came after Trump signed an executive order on Friday, October 16, waiving certain sanctions, restrictions and duties under the Graham Act.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump said in the order.
The waiver came days after Trump reached a deal with Putin to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market amid rising fuel prices.
At the same time, Zelenskyy said US intelligence sharing had been briefly “blocked,” leaving Ukraine without information about incoming ballistic missile attacks. Restrictions were also imposed on Starlink technology, which is critical to Ukraine’s military communications and drone operations.
Kyiv believes decision to limit Starlink came from US government
During the interview, Zelenskyy told the host that Ukrainian officials believed the decision to restrict Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, had come in response to a “message from American government.”
However, Trump denied that his administration had disrupted the satellite system, while Ukrainian officials maintained that they believed the US government had been involved in the restrictions.
While the US had stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine during its war with Russia, relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have come under increasing strain in recent weeks.
Asked about Trump’s remark that the Ukrainian leader was “more difficult to deal with than Putin,” Zelenskyy said he had been “very honest” with Trump.
“Maybe it’s not very polite,” he said, but it is “better to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers, even with a smile on their face.”
Zelenskyy, who said last week that he felt betrayed by Trump’s decision to reach an energy agreement with Russia, reiterated that the diesel deal would strengthen Russia and reinforce its “will to occupy us.”
