The key facts

  • Zelensky: US actions look like pushing Ukraine toward capitulation, but he does not assert that this is the US's precise goal
  • According to him, the US offered Patriot in exchange for halting strikes on Russia's diesel facilities
  • Rubio and Trump rejected accusations of deliberately restricting Starshield

Zelensky's statement

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg on October 18 (citing a DW report) that, in his opinion, steps have been taken to push Ukraine toward capitulation. At the same time, he refrained from asserting that this is a deliberate goal of the US: 'I am not saying that our partners are pursuing this goal... But that is how it looks,' he said.

Starshield restrictions and Patriot delays

According to Zelensky, the US deliberately restricted the operation of Starshield — the military package of Starlink services used by Ukraine — and is also dragging out deliveries of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reported that restrictions in Starshield's operation appeared on the night of October 14 and hampered the operation of unmanned systems and logistics; on October 15 the ministry announced the restoration of the system's operation in field conditions.

The exchange offer

Zelensky said that in recent talks with the Trump administration he proposed deliveries of Patriot missiles to protect Ukrainian facilities in exchange for halting strikes on diesel fuel production facilities in Russia. According to him, the American side wants to stop strikes only on diesel production. The President of Ukraine expressed concern that if the strikes continue, other capabilities may also be restricted.

The US election context

Zelensky said that ahead of the US midterm congressional elections on November 3, 'dangerous days' have arrived for Kyiv: politics intensifies during the pre-election period, and he hopes for stabilization of the situation after the vote. He assessed Trump's relations with Vladimir Putin as good, but noted that this has not yet led to a halt in the war.

The American side's reaction

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 17 rejected claims of a deliberate restriction of communications. Earlier, Donald Trump stated that he had not given such an order and that he does not believe Elon Musk did so.