Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Kyiv is “done” supporting a ceasefire on energy targets announced by Donald Trump after it was ignored by Russia, reports BritPanorama.
Trump made the surprise announcement on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on energy, after which Kyiv suspended strikes on refineries while Russia continued launching air attacks across Ukraine.
“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Mr. Zelensky told the Financial Times, following Russian strikes on power stations that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people.
This incident highlights Kyiv’s growing frustration with Trump, particularly after Zelensky stated he felt betrayed by a recent decision to restrict the Ukrainian military’s use of SpaceX’s Starlink.
In effectively walking away from Trump’s demand that Ukraine halt attacks on refineries, Zelensky risks deepening the most significant rift between Kyiv and Washington since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Although Trump has portrayed the ceasefire as a requirement for both Moscow and Kyiv, his public comments have predominantly targeted Ukraine, insisting that its strikes on Russian refineries “damn well better stop.”
Ukrainians express concern that the growing discord with Washington could have severe repercussions on the battlefield, given the Ukrainian military’s reliance on US-provided technology.
Kyiv officials have reported a lack of the usual alerts from Western allies about incoming Russian missile strikes, which typically depend on US satellite detection systems.
Simultaneously, military-grade Starlink equipment has malfunctioned in Ukraine when mounted on vehicles, impeding drone operations essential for tactical guidance.
While both White House sources and SpaceX’s Elon Musk have denied involvement in the restrictions, Zelensky maintains it is a policy decision, stating, “It was not a technical problem, it was the will.”
Musk had earlier attributed restrictions on Starlink’s speed for Ukrainian military members to Trump’s influence. He noted that the service is controlled by the US government and emphasized that Starlink’s use is limited to non-offensive military actions.
Zelensky expressed to Piers Morgan that he viewed the shutdown as detrimental, stating, “people would die” as a direct consequence. Several military missions reportedly faced challenges due to the disruption.
A US official clarified that the Trump administration was not involved in the restrictions on Starlink, and the White House has been approached for further comment.
As Ukraine suffers missile attacks, Trump’s insistence on an energy ceasefire continues to draw scrutiny. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Musk of “playing politics,” asserting that European stakeholders are closely observing his actions.
The situation unfolded amidst Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Russia and facilitate global diesel exports, with the US reportedly slated to purchase 300,000 tons of the fuel.
As tensions between Kyiv and Washington grow, the impact on ground operations in Ukraine remains a critical concern. The decisions made in these corridors of power will reverberate on the battlefield.
