Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned Sunday that any formal U.S. alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin would amount to a “historic mistake,” even as he stressed that he continues to view President Donald Trump as a partner despite growing bilateral tensions.
“We want to trust him,” Zelenskyy said during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “I hope that he will change his decisions, because I think that it’s all mistakes, and it will not help us, and it will not help United States.”
Zelenskyy’s comments follow an executive order signed by Trump on Friday waiving wide-ranging congressional sanctions aimed at squeezing Russia’s oil and gas revenue streams. Trump stated the waiver was in the national interest of the United States. The measure, passed with broad bipartisan support and signed just last month, bore the name of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican whom Zelenskyy described Sunday as a staunch champion of Ukraine.
Disputes Over Energy and Defense Aid
Trump eased the measures shortly after reaching an agreement with Moscow to introduce hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel into global markets amid climbing domestic fuel expenses. While the White House cited high pump prices, Zelenskyy argued the energy agreement would do little to alleviate fuel costs in the U.S., attributing price spikes instead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Siding with Moscow, Zelenskyy warned, “will strengthen Putin in his will to occupy us.”
Defending the administration on Sunday, Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, told NBC News that Trump was balancing pressure on the Kremlin with relief for domestic consumers. Lankford maintained that Trump was “choosing the American people first” while attempting to steer both nations toward the bargaining table.
The diplomatic friction extends beyond energy. Last week, Ukrainian forces reported that access to the Starshield satellite communications network—a military-tailored iteration of Elon Musk’s Starlink operated by the U.S. government—was abruptly restricted for equipment moving faster than 100 mph. Ukrainian officials noted that the speed threshold severely disrupted interceptor drones deployed to stop incoming Russian jet-powered attack drones.
Musk stated that limits on Starshield usage are determined by the U.S. military and the president rather than SpaceX. Zelenskyy told NBC News he believed both the White House and Musk bore responsibility for the operational restrictions, asserting that Trump could reverse the decision at any moment.
Intelligence Resumes as Talks Continue
Zelenskyy confirmed Sunday that a critical channel of American intelligence sharing had resumed after an abrupt multiday suspension that temporarily left Kyiv without advance notice of incoming Russian ballistic missiles. European and Ukrainian officials previously suggested to NBC News that the pause was intended to force Kyiv into making concessions during stalled negotiations.
“We are very thankful for this,” Zelenskyy said regarding the restored missile warnings. “Now it works.”
The strain between the two leaders has played out publicly after Trump observed earlier in the week that Zelenskyy was harder to negotiate with than Putin. Responding Sunday, Zelenskyy said he preferred straightforward, open relations over dealing with “killers, even with a smile on their face.”
With Russian troops still holding approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, diplomatic negotiations remain gridlocked after Moscow dismissed a short-term ceasefire framework. Ukrainian officials face a daunting winter marked by ammunition shortages and persistent infrastructure strikes, though Zelenskyy said he was scheduled to speak by phone with American negotiators later Sunday in hopes of arranging future face-to-face discussions.
