Zelensky accuses US of delaying missiles, Trump floats meeting with Putin and Xi without Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelensky told US senators that the Pentagon is delaying delivery of interceptor missiles already paid for by European countries, while several EU states await US approval to transfer Patriots. Donald Trump called Zelensky a 'warmonger' and floated a meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping in China, raising fears in Kyiv of being sidelined from negotiations. The US denies scaling back intelligence sharing.

tafs uz editorial deskFirst published on tafs uz 20 October 2026 at 06:393 min readAI translation

The key facts

Zelensky: the Pentagon is delaying delivery of paid-for missiles, awaiting Hegseth's signature
Trump ready to meet Putin and Xi in China; the Kremlin confirmed the topic 'was mentioned'
Strikes on Ukraine's power grid left more than 500,000 people without electricity; six people, including three children, were killed near Kharkiv

Kyiv accuses Washington of delaying missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday to US senators that 'the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles' already paid for by European countries, and that the shipment is awaiting the signature of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to him, several European countries are ready to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their stockpiles but are waiting for US approval. 'The missiles are ready and they could already be in Ukraine. But, unfortunately, approval is still lacking,' AFP quoted Zelensky as saying.

Disputes over intelligence and Starshield

The US denies any changes in intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Uzbekistan, refuted reports of a halt to data sharing and backed Trump's call for Zelensky to focus on ending the conflict. Trump also denied ordering a slowdown on the state Starshield network developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX — Musk had earlier said such an order could only have come from the White House.

Possible summit without Kyiv

Trump said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss denuclearization; according to him, the conversation could also touch on the war in Ukraine, which raised fears in Kyiv that the country is being sidelined from negotiations. The Wall Street Journal reported on the possible meeting; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that 'the topic of such a hypothetical meeting was indeed mentioned.' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said such a meeting 'will only push Putin to continue the war.'

Strained relations and the diesel deal

Relations between Kyiv and Washington deteriorated after Trump partially lifted sanctions for a diesel fuel supply deal with Putin and called Zelensky a 'warmonger' over Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. On Monday Trump again defended the diesel deal: 'Zelensky doesn't know what he's talking about. Honestly, I think it's time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.'

Strikes on the power grid and casualties

New Russian strikes again hit energy facilities and infrastructure across Ukraine, leaving more than 500,000 people without electricity and forcing emergency repairs to the power grid. 'Once again there was no early warning from our partners,' Zelensky said. According to authorities, six people, including three children, were killed in a strike near Kharkiv.

Contact with the Vatican and stalled talks

Zelensky spoke with Pope Leo XIV on Monday, the Vatican said — days after a similar call between the pontiff and Putin. The Vatican said the pope urged both sides to ensure humanitarian aid access to Alyoshky, occupied by Russian forces, and the possibility for civilians to leave. Negotiations to end the largest conflict in Europe since World War II have stalled: Russia refuses to renounce its claims to Ukrainian territories, while Ukraine rejects attempts to force it to do so.