‘Hey, big man, are you playing politics’: What Trump-Putin's diesel deal, Starlink curbs mean for Zelensky's Ukraine?
US President Trump’s Russian oil sanctions waiver and Starlink restrictions threaten Ukraine’s drone warfare and expose Zelensky to fresh pressure from Washington.
As Russian forces continue their assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a fuel deal with Moscow and recent limits on Starlink satellite internet have raised questions about Washington's support for Kyiv. Overnight, Russia targeted three power plants supplying Kyiv, threatening heating and electricity supplies as temperatures drop.
The Ukrainian leader reported no prior warning of incoming ballistic missiles from Western allies for the second night in a row, leaving authorities without an air raid alert. Russian strikes also hit bridges, petrol stations, city buildings, and warehouses in Kyiv, increasing casualties and straining Ukraine's defenses. Ukraine's forces rely on Starlink for battlefield communications, intelligence gathering, drone operations, and logistics, especially in areas where conventional communications fail.
However, the restrictions imposed on Starlink connections could limit the effectiveness of interceptor and strike missions, as well as reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. US officials attributed the warning gap to a technical malfunction but Ukrainian officials suspect political pressure from the Trump administration. The fuel deal with Russia and the Starlink restrictions have heightened tensions between Washington and Kyiv, potentially influencing the president's stance on accepting unfavorable settlement terms with Moscow.
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