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Zelenskyy Says Washington’s Latest Moves Suggest Pressure on Ukraine to Capitulate to Russia
Starlink restrictions and delayed Patriot deliveries are making Washington’s pressure on Kyiv look increasingly like an attempt to push Ukraine toward capitulation.
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Recent decisions by Washington increasingly look like an attempt to pressure Ukraine into capitulating to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Bloomberg on October 18.
“I believe steps were taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate,” Zelenskyy said.
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But the Ukrainian President also stressed that he does not believe Ukraine’s US partners necessarily intend that outcome.
He clarified that he was describing the effect of recent US actions rather than accusing Washington of explicitly pursuing Ukraine’s surrender.
“I don’t want to think that our American partners believe the war can be ended faster at Ukraine’s expense. But that is what it looks like,” he said.
Among the measures Zelenskyy cited were deliberate restrictions on Starlink connectivity and delays in supplying Patriot interceptor missiles that Ukraine had already paid for.
Both have become increasingly sensitive issues as Russia intensifies ballistic missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
In addition, Ukraine received no warning from its partners before Russian ballistic missiles struck civilian infrastructure in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy also said US President Donald Trump maintains a genuinely good relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but argued that the relationship has so far failed to produce the result Washington wants.
“But one thing does not work here: right now Trump cannot force Putin to end the war,” Zelenskyy said.
Despite the growing tensions, the Ukrainian leader said he believes relations with Washington could stabilize after the US midterm elections on November 3.
“During elections, politics is very aggressive. I think what we are seeing now is agony, but after the elections life will continue, and I believe things will become calmer,” he said.
Zelenskyy warned, however, that Ukraine cannot afford to wait until political disagreements develop into much larger strategic problems.
“When Ukraine faces risks on the scale of a tsunami, you have to intervene while it is still only a light storm. I think far more is at stake than a diesel fuel deal,” he said.
The Ukrainian president added that he is likely to meet again this week with Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff as Kyiv continues efforts to repair relations and secure military support.
Recently, US President Donald Trump blocked the implementation of sweeping sanctions and tariffs against Russia and buyers of Russian energy under a law championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, just weeks after signing the legislation himself.
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