{
  "id": 15350953,
  "title": "Trump-Zelenskyy rift threatens vital support for Kyiv",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/trump-zelenskyy-rift-threatens-vital-support-for-kyiv",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T04:12:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2026/10/1558108/trump-zelenskyy-rift-threatens-vital-support-kyiv"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the past week, the relationship between Kyiv and its closest ally, the United States, has deteriorated severely. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, driven by his frustration over high energy costs he attributes partly to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Trump's ire reached a peak when he threatened to cut off intelligence support for Ukraine, waive tariffs on Russian exports, and even a diesel deal that could financially aid Russia's ongoing war. Concerns have grown that this rift could prove disastrous for Ukraine.\n\nIn response to Trump's barbs, Zelenskyy delivered a series of sharp public criticisms, suggesting that the US was beginning to favor Russia. The Ukrainian leader explicitly stated that Ukraine would defy Trump's demand to halt attacks on Russian energy targets, citing Russia's continuous aggression. Trump's waiver of key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs on Friday further exacerbated the situation, leading Zelenskyy to warn that such an action might encourage Russia to continue its attacks on Ukraine.\n\nUkraine's charge d'affaires in Washington, Denys Sienik, expressed gratitude to Trump and his team for their efforts to end the war but emphasized that Ukraine remains open to talks with Russia. Daniel Fried, a former senior State Department official on Europe, noted the uncertainty surrounding Washington's stance, stressing that this turmoil is damaging prospects for an end to the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Fried emphasized that it's not just a missed opportunity, but it also causes genuine suffering in Ukraine and encourages Putin to continue the war, making it not cost-free.\n\nTrump's relationship with Zelenskyy has always been uneasy, with public confrontations taking place even in the Oval Office. While the relationship seemed to stabilize, Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy sites this year have contributed to rising fuel prices, becoming a political problem for Trump before the November midterm elections. Experts argue that the surge in energy costs is primarily due to the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has resulted in Iranian attacks on energy facilities and has largely closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Trump, however, turned to Russia to boost fuel supply and curb prices, according to an informed source.\n\nFor Kyiv, the stakes are high and immediate. Zelenskyy has reported receiving no warning from Western partners before a deadly Russian attack on the capital. Without US intelligence, Ukraine may face greater difficulty in detecting and countering Russian missile and drone attacks. Additionally, Starshield system, Ukraine's military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink service, was disrupted, possibly due to an order from the White House. Although Ukraine retains support among Trump's fellow Republicans, who argue that Washington should not pressure Kyiv into accepting terms favorable to Moscow, Zelenskyy may be banking on a power shift on Capitol Hill following the midterm elections to prevent Trump from easing sanctions on Russia and reducing military assistance to Kyiv.",
  "summary": "FROM US threats to cut off intelligence support for Ukraine to a waiver of tariffs on Russian exports and a diesel deal that could help Russia fund its war, it has been a damaging week for ties between Kyiv and its most important ally, Washington.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Trump-Zelenskyy rift threatens vital support for Kyiv",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/trump-zelenskyy-rift-threatens-vital-support-for-kyiv",
        "published": "2026-10-17T23:24:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}