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Zelenskyy Urges US Senators to Pressure Trump Over Blocked Weapons and Intelligence Support
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked a bipartisan group of US senators to press President Donald Trump’s administration to lift restrictions on weapons deliveries and intelligence sharing, warning that the measures are affecting Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
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According to Axios on October 19, Zelenskyy raised the concerns during a video call with senators led by Republican Thom Tillis and Democrat Richard Blumenthal. The Ukrainian president described disruptions to satellite communications, gaps in early-warning intelligence, and delays in the delivery of US-made air defense missiles.
Zelenskyy told the senators that Ukrainian forces continued experiencing restrictions affecting Starlink satellite internet and its military-oriented version, Starshield, following talks in Miami on October 9.
The limitations have affected Ukrainian air defense operations, including efforts to intercept Russian attack drones. Kyiv has not received a clear explanation from Washington about the restrictions, despite statements from the White House suggesting that the problems had been resolved.
The Ukrainian president also reported that Ukraine had failed to receive advance US warnings about Russian ballistic missile launches on three occasions during the previous week, including Sunday, October 18.
According to Axios, Zelenskyy said Washington had not explained the interruptions, raising concerns about the reliability of intelligence sharing at a time when Ukraine continues facing Russian missile attacks.
Weapons deliveries were another major issue raised during the call. Zelenskyy told lawmakers that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had not authorized shipments of Patriot interceptor missiles and AIM-9X missiles for NASAMS air defense systems, even though NATO countries had already paid for the weapons.
The Ukrainian president suggested that the simultaneous restrictions on military equipment, satellite connectivity, and intelligence could indicate a broader political decision to slow US assistance to Kyiv.
Axios also reported that Zelenskyy discussed a proposal he had presented to Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during talks on October 18.
Under the proposal, Ukraine would suspend strikes against Russian oil refineries for 30 days in exchange for US deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles to protect Ukrainian territory from Russian ballistic attacks during that period.
Following the senators' call with Zelenskyy, Tillis reaffirmed congressional support for Ukraine and European allies in countering Russian aggression and pursuing a lasting peace.
Blumenthal also emphasized that bipartisan support for Ukraine remained in place and indicated that lawmakers intended to demonstrate that commitment through further action.
The restrictions have also affected Ukraine’s air defense operations. According to Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, Starshield’s 160 km/h speed limit disrupts satellite communications used by Ukrainian helicopters hunting Russian Shahed drones and high-speed interceptor drones designed to counter faster, jet-powered variants.
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