Zelensky says he feels betrayed over Trump-Russia deal

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his feelings of betrayal over a recent U.S.-Russia deal, stating that Ukraine is losing a significant ally as Washington eases sanctions on Russia while increasing pressure on Kyiv. During an interview with British host Piers Morgan, Zelensky said, "Yeah, but not because of us. We can't be weak."

He criticized President Trump for choosing one side over the other, particularly in choosing to replace Ukraine's leader. When asked directly if he felt betrayed by Trump, Zelensky replied, "Really, yes... but it's a little bit more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings."

Furthermore, Zelensky highlighted the negative impact of Russia's recent deal, which involves purchasing diesel from Russia despite Ukraine's ongoing conflict. He also denounced the restriction of Ukraine's Starlink service operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, which he deemed a "big mistake" as it hampers Ukraine's combat operations. Ukraine has requested the restoration of Starlink operations, warning that failure could lead to casualties. Zelensky urged that people's lives are at stake and that such actions are unacceptable.

The Ukraine-U.S. relationship reached a low point after Trump blamed Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries for the rise in global fuel prices, a claim disputed by experts. Additionally, Trump's team threatened to cut off intelligence support and arms shipments unless Ukraine ceased the attacks. This led to the unexpected unveiling of a deal allowing Russia to export diesel fuel to the U.S. and other markets despite sanctions.

Despite Ukraine's support for the truce and its subsequent pause in strikes against Russian refineries, Moscow has continued its attacks on Ukraine's power grid, with no criticism from Trump. Zelensky expressed skepticism about Trump's advisers, stating, "I don't know who is pushing him to the wrong side. This is not the right side of history."