The partnership between Washington and Kyiv has hit its roughest patch in months, and this time the Ukrainian president is not hiding his feelings. In an interview late on Wednesday with British journalist Piers Morgan, Volodymyr Zelensky said he feels “betrayed” by Donald Trump, naming three American moves in the past few days that he says have left Ukraine more exposed than ever.
“Really, yes, between us,” Zelensky told Morgan when asked directly whether he felt betrayed by the American president. “Our country has to survive, and we count on our real partners, strategic partners, the United States and President Trump.”
Three moves that stunned Kyiv
Zelensky pointed to a trio of developments, each landing within days of the others:
- Starlink restrictions: Ukraine says its access to the military-grade version of Elon Musk’s satellite system, known as Starshield, has been slowed or limited, hitting the drone operations that have become the backbone of its battlefield strategy.
- A Russian diesel deal: Trump struck an agreement with Vladimir Putin to import millions of tonnes of Russian diesel, despite international efforts to isolate Moscow over its invasion. Zelensky said the deal would let Russia “press on with its full-scale invasion.”
- An energy ceasefire, announced without him: Trump publicly announced an energy truce between Russia and Ukraine. Zelensky said he found out like everyone else, calling it “news for me.”
Of the American behaviour, including the Starlink limits, Zelensky told Morgan it “was really strange.”
Trump fires back: “Not a big fan of Zelensky”
The White House did not take the criticism quietly. On Thursday, Trump told the Newsmax network that Zelensky “is not a good guy for us to deal with” and added, “I’m not a big fan of Zelensky. They’ve destroyed that country.”
The US president said he finds Zelensky “more difficult to deal with than Putin” and criticised Kyiv for resuming long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure instead of settling with Moscow. He even suggested Ukraine should hold an election to replace its wartime leader.
The exchange marks the lowest point in the relationship since the infamous Oval Office clash last year.
Why the Starlink curb hurts so much
To understand Zelensky’s anger, you have to understand what Starlink means on the modern battlefield. Ukrainian drone pilots rely on satellite connectivity to steer long-range drones deep into Russian territory, including the strikes on oil refineries that have become one of Kyiv’s most effective forms of pressure on Moscow.
Elon Musk clarified on X that Starshield systems are “owned and controlled by the US government,” writing that “any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately Potus [the president].” He added that commercial Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and “cannot be used for offensive military action.”
A Ukrainian official said Kyiv has received no explanation from SpaceX or the Pentagon for the slowdown. Zelensky told Morgan that “people will die” because of the decision.
Refinery strikes resume as truce collapses
Whatever truce Trump announced did not survive the week. On Thursday, a senior Ukrainian official confirmed that Ukraine had struck a Russian oil refinery, resuming the campaign that had briefly paused.
Moscow’s reaction was furious. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine never stopped hitting refineries, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the strikes a “direct and crude challenge to President Trump.”
For Zelensky, the logic is simple. The refinery campaign is one of the few levers Ukraine holds over Moscow, and he is not about to give it up in exchange for a ceasefire he was not consulted on.
What happens next
Zelensky travelled to Brussels on Thursday for talks with European Union leaders at a two-day summit, a clear signal that Kyiv is leaning harder on Europe as Washington wavers. He told Morgan that Ukraine was “losing a strong partner” in the United States, adding: “It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side.”
For now, the war of words is escalating faster than any peace effort. Trump’s team has made no visible progress toward ending the war, now in its fifth year, and both sides appear to be digging in rather than talking.
FAQs
Why does Zelensky say he feels betrayed by Trump?
He cited three things in his Piers Morgan interview: limits on Ukraine’s access to the Starlink/Starshield satellite system used by its drones, a US deal to buy Russian diesel from Putin, and an energy ceasefire announced without consulting Kyiv.
What exactly are the Starlink restrictions?
Ukraine says the military-grade Starshield service, controlled by the US government, has been slowed for its forces. Elon Musk said any such limits are decided by the US military and ultimately the president. Kyiv says it got no explanation.
What is the US-Russia diesel deal?
Trump agreed with Putin to import millions of tonnes of Russian diesel, reportedly to ease US fuel prices. Zelensky slammed it as a lifeline that helps Moscow fund its invasion.
Is the US still helping Ukraine?
Trump says America has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, but Kyiv says the absence of Western intelligence and satellite support is leaving it more vulnerable to Russian missiles.
The coming weeks will show whether this is a temporary rupture or a lasting break in the alliance that has defined the war’s Western front. For Ukrainians living under daily missile and drone attacks, the answer cannot come soon enough.
