On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an online call with a bipartisan group of US senators led by Thom Tillis and Richard Blumenthal. According to sources, during the conversation, the Ukrainian leader outlined a number of problems the country has faced following the meeting in Miami and asked lawmakers to pressure Donald Trump's administration to lift restrictions on intelligence sharing and weapon supplies.
Restrictions on Satellite Systems
Zelenskyy reported that the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems remain partially restricted, despite White House statements to the contrary. “We still have no explanation for this. Unfortunately, we only hear various strange stories. This hinders Ukraine's ability to shoot down Russian strike drones,” he stated, emphasizing that Kyiv has received no clear explanation from Washington.
Lack of Ballistic Missile Warnings
According to the president, over the past week Ukraine three times, including on Sunday, received no advance warnings from the US about incoming Russian ballistic missile launches. The Ukrainian leader attributes this to restricted intelligence sharing and notes that Kyiv has still received no explanation from the American side.
The Patriot and NASAMS Missile Issue
Zelenskyy also stated that Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth is withholding consent for the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles and AIM-9x missiles for the NASAMS air defense system, despite NATO countries having already paid for these complexes. “We have almost no Patriot missiles left from our US partners... All this suggests that some political decision was made to slow down our support. We want to understand what is happening, why it is happening, and where all this is leading,” he said.
The Thirty-Day Proposal and Mediators' Reaction
In addition, the president shared details with senators regarding negotiations held on Sunday with Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. He reported that he offered the mediators a 30-day halt on strikes against Russian oil refineries in exchange for the US providing Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistics during that period. According to him, Witkoff and Kushner showed no interest in the idea.
Prospects for Further Contacts
In conclusion, Zelenskyy informed the senators that he will be in Norway next week and may meet with Witkoff and Kushner on Tuesday or Wednesday. Following that, he said, Trump's representatives might travel to Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin.
