{
  "id": 15433123,
  "title": "Zelensky speaks to Witkoff, Kushner amid U.S.-Ukraine crisis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/zelensky-speaks-to-witkoff-kushner-amid-u-s-ukraine-crisis",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T15:05:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Axios",
    "slug": "axios",
    "url": "https://www.axios.com/2026/10/18/zelensky-witkoff-kushner-ukraine-russia-crisis"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a conversation with President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sunday, addressing the recent crisis between the nations and the U.S.'s attempts to restart peace talks with Russia. This call marked the first interaction between Zelensky and senior U.S. officials since tensions escalated following the U.S.'s termination of a diesel deal with Russia just a week prior.\n\nThe purpose of this call was to discuss the restrictions imposed on Ukrainian military satellite systems, specifically the Starlink and Starshield networks. Zelensky asserted that the Trump administration was responsible for these restrictions, stating, \"If President Trump will decide tomorrow, or better today, if he will personally decide to lift this decision, it will immediately work as it was before.\" However, he also acknowledged that the decision might have been made by the White House and SpaceX.\n\nZelensky further claimed that the message behind the restrictions came directly from the U.S. government, citing the opinions of Ukrainian generals, government officials, and himself. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the other hand, denied any involvement of the U.S. government in the Starlink restrictions, later claiming that the restrictions had been lifted. Ukrainian officials, though, continue to dispute this claim.",
  "summary": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke Sunday with President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about the crisis between the countries and U.S. efforts to resume peace talks with Russia. Why it matters: It was the first call between Zelensky and senior U.S. officials since tensions spiked between their countries after Trump cut a diesel deal with Russia 10 days ago. Driving the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system still restricted in Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/zelensky-says-musk-owned-satellite-system-still-restricted-in-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-10-17T14:40:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "US resumes intelligence-sharing with Ukraine after pause, Zelensky says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/us-resumes-intelligence-sharing-with-ukraine-after-pause-zelensky-says",
        "published": "2026-10-18T15:46:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}