Zelenskyy urges senators to pressure Trump to restore aid to Ukraine - Axios
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to a group of bipartisan senators to pressure the Trump administration into lifting restrictions on intelligence sharing and arms supplies, Axios reports.
According to sources, during an online call on Monday with a bipartisan group of senators led by Thom Tillis and Richard Blumenthal, Zelenskyy outlined various problems Ukraine has faced since the meeting in Miami.
The Ukrainian leader said that the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems remain partially restricted, despite the White House’s statements to the contrary.
"We still have no explanation for this. Just different strange stories we're hearing, unfortunately. It's hampering Ukraine's ability to shoot down Russian attack drones," Zelenskyy said.
In addition, Ukraine did not receive advance warnings from the US about Russian ballistic missile attacks three times over the past week, including on Sunday. Zelenskyy believes this indicates restrictions on intelligence sharing. Kyiv has yet to receive any explanation from Washington.
Zelenskyy also said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was withholding approval for the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles and AIM-9X missiles for NASAMS air defense systems, despite NATO countries having already paid for them.
"We have almost no Patriot interceptors left from the US partners... All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down support for us. We want to understand what is happening, why it's happening, and where all of this is heading," the Ukrainian leader said.
In addition, the Ukrainian president briefed the senators on the details of his talks on Sunday with Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
He said he had proposed that the envoys agree to a 30-day halt to strikes on Russian oil refineries. In return, the Ukrainian leader asked the US to provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles so that it could defend itself against Russian ballistic missile attacks during those 30 days.
Zelenskyy added that Witkoff and Kushner had shown no interest in the idea.
Finally, the president told the senators that he would be in Norway next week and could meet with Witkoff and Kushner on Tuesday or Wednesday. Trump’s envoys may then travel to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump-Zelenskyy conflict
In addition to the restrictions Ukraine is facing, a dispute has emerged between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
In particular, Trump has accused Zelenskyy of allegedly not wanting to end the war and has also said that someone else should lead negotiations on behalf of Ukraine.
For his part, Zelenskyy said in an interview that, judging by its recent actions, the Trump administration is pushing Ukraine toward surrendering to Russia.
