Symbolic imageTrump says Russia behaved well and Ukraine gave nothing as rift with Kyiv widens
Trump said someone else should negotiate for Ukraine, while Zelensky accused Washington of withholding air-defence missiles. Rubio denied any political motive.
Trump told reporters on Monday evening, 19 October, that Russia had behaved well regarding Ukraine and that the time had come for someone else to negotiate on Kyiv's behalf. He said the US shares much intelligence with Ukraine, which in return has given nothing. On Tuesday, according to an Axios transcript of a call with US senators, Zelensky said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was deliberately withholding approval for Patriot and AIM-9X deliveries paid for by NATO allies, and that Ukraine has almost no American missiles left.
Rubio denies political motive
Rubio said on Tuesday that interceptors bought under the PURL programme may not have been delivered, but that no political directive aims to harm Ukraine. Reuters reported earlier that Hegseth had yet to authorize the latest package and that Washington had threatened to stop PURL to press Kyiv to end deep strikes on Russian energy sites.
Starshield limits and missed warnings
Zelensky said Ukraine failed three times in a week to receive US warnings of Russian ballistic strikes and that Starlink and Starshield are partly restricted. The Wall Street Journal reports that Elon Musk capped Starshield speeds for Ukrainian equipment; Hegseth said the Pentagon ordered no change.
Senators and envoy talks
After the call, Republican Thom Tillis and Democrat Richard Blumenthal pledged continued support for Ukraine. Zelensky met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, and Witkoff travels to Russia on Wednesday.