As Russia-Ukraine war changes, Zelenskyy could be 'losing a strong partner'
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has taken on a different complexion lately, and it has shone a light on Kyiv's strained relations with the White House.
Yuriy Sak, a former advisor to Ukraine's defence minister, described the current situation as a new reality, with constant pings on his phone alerting him to Russian drones and missiles. The ongoing conflict has shifted focus to Ukraine's skies, with Russia intensifying aerial attacks on civilian targets and critical infrastructure.
Analysts believe Moscow aims to exploit Ukraine's stretched air defences and pressure Kyiv into accepting its maximalist demands for peace. In recent months, Russia has deployed improved jet-powered drones that are difficult to intercept, causing Ukraine's interception rate to improve to around 80 percent. Ukraine relies on US intelligence to detect incoming missile attacks, but recently, this intelligence-sharing was interrupted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused his country's partners of failing to share intelligence, while US President Donald Trump denied any involvement in the interruption. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that no one at the White House ordered the speed cap on Starshield internet terminals, which Ukraine uses for communication.
Despite this, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on October 11, which Ukraine was unaware of. Trump also waived sanctions on Russia, potentially to keep Putin at the negotiating table and lower petrol prices ahead of the mid-term elections. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy criticized Trump's actions in interviews, calling it a betrayal.
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