# US-Ukraine Relations Worsen Amid Trump's Dealings with Russia, Zelenskyy Criticisms

> US President Donald Trump's recent decisions on Russian sanctions and a diesel deal, coupled with his criticisms of Ukrainian leadership, have caused a deep rift in US-Ukraine relations this October.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-20T14:52:18.029710Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/us-ukraine-relations-worsen-amid-trump-s-dealings-with-russia-zelenskyy-criticisms-9f13851e

US President Donald Trump's decision to greenlight a diesel fuel deal with Russia on October 9 [25] and suspend sanctions against Russia on October 16 [1] has intensified a growing rift with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the United States of deliberate intelligence withholding and delayed missile deliveries, contributing to a "denial of reality" narrative from Kyiv [3][37][4].

These actions, combined with Trump's call on October 19 for "somebody else to negotiate" for Ukraine, are creating significant concern among European nations who fear a weakening of NATO and a betrayal of Ukraine [4][6]. The ongoing strain impacts Ukraine's ability to defend itself and shapes the global perception of US commitment to its allies.

## What the records show

On October 9, US President Donald Trump proceeded with a diesel fuel deal with Russia [25][26]. This decision followed Ukraine's alleged disregard for US requests to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries [25]. Days later, on October 16, Trump signed an executive order that suspended sanctions against Russia, citing "national interests" as the reason [1]. This move drew criticism from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy [1]. Despite US warnings, Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil terminals continued [11][15][16][17][29].

Disruptions to Starlink and Starshield services were reported in Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy implying deliberate US action [9][10]. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, attributed these disruptions to technical issues and denied any official order from the White House to suspend intelligence sharing or restrict services [38][39][41]. Rubio also clarified that Ukraine does not have access to Starshield [9].

## Timeline

**October 9, 2026**: US President Donald Trump proceeds with a diesel fuel deal with Russia [25][26].

**October 14, 2026**: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the US had threatened to halt intelligence-sharing if Ukraine continued long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries [12][13].

**October 16, 2026**: Trump signs an executive order suspending sanctions against Russia [1]. Zelenskyy criticizes the move [1].

**October 17, 2026**: Ukraine reports receiving no advance warning for a Russian missile attack that occurred on this date [3].

**October 19, 2026**: Trump intensifies his criticism of Zelenskyy, suggesting it is "time for somebody else to negotiate" for Ukraine [4][6]. Zelenskyy, in turn, accuses Washington of "denial of reality" and implies deliberate intelligence withholding and delayed missile deliveries [3][37][4]. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes a trilateral meeting with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Ukraine war, a proposal Trump is reportedly open to [30][31][32].

## What changed and for whom

The US administration's posture towards Russia and Ukraine has shifted considerably. The diesel deal and sanctions suspension mark a significant departure from previous US policy supporting Ukraine against Russia [1][25]. For Ukraine, the perceived withdrawal of US support, including threats to intelligence sharing and alleged delays in missile deliveries, has left it feeling exposed to Russian aggression [3][12][37]. European allies have expressed deep concern, viewing Trump's actions as potentially destabilizing for NATO and a betrayal of Ukraine [2][35].

## What they said publicly

US President Donald Trump suggested on October 19 that it was "time for somebody else to negotiate" for Ukraine [4][6]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv received no advance warning for the October 17 Russian missile attack [3]. He also accused the US of "denial of reality" and implied that intelligence was deliberately withheld and missile deliveries delayed [3][37][4]. Regarding Starlink and Starshield disruptions, Zelenskyy implied deliberate US action [9][10]. In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any official order to restrict Starlink operations or suspend intelligence sharing, attributing service disruptions to technical issues [38][39][41]. He further clarified that Ukraine does not have access to Starshield [9]. European nations have voiced concern that Trump's actions could undermine NATO and betray Ukraine [2][35].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact details or nature of the US requests for Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries [25]. The specific technical issues causing Starlink and Starshield service disruptions in Ukraine were not detailed in the available records [38][39][41]. The exact date or location of the upcoming peace negotiations involving Steve Witkoff and Zelenskyy in Norway are not specified [20][21].

## Evidence cited
1. https://www.ft.com/content/f2261796-20d1-4c90-ab3e-246d4aff504f?syn-25a6b1a6=1 — https://www.ft.com/content/f2261796-20d1-4c90-ab3e-246d4aff504f?syn-25a6b1a6=1
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9p8gz7zx4peo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9p8gz7zx4peo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
3. No US warning of Russian strikes on Kyiv power plants, says Zelenskyy — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/no-us-warning-russian-strikes-kyiv-power-plants-zelenskyy-ukraine-trump
4. US-Ukraine relations sour as Trump, Zelenskyy clash over talks, arms — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/20/us-ukraine-relations-sour-as-trump-zelenskyy-clash-over-talks-arms?traffic_source=rss
5. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/us/politics/trump-russia-deals.html — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/us/politics/trump-russia-deals.html
6. Trump escalates clash with Zelenskyy as Russia continues deadly attacks on Ukraine — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-escalates-clash-with-zelenskyy-as-russia-continues-deadly-attacks-on-ukraine
7. https://time.com/article/2026/10/20/trump-summit-putin-xi-russia-china-ukraine-nuclear-weapons/ — https://time.com/article/2026/10/20/trump-summit-putin-xi-russia-china-ukraine-nuclear-weapons/
8. SpaceX Unilaterally Restricts Starshield in Ukraine Mid-Combat Operations — https://satnews.com/2026/10/14/spacex-unilaterally-restricts-starshield-in-ukraine-mid-combat-operations/
9. Ukraine and the US are at odds over Starshield. Here's what to know — https://knpr.org/knpr/2026-10-18/ukraine-and-the-us-are-at-odds-over-starshield-heres-what-to-know
10. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/ukraine-zelenskyy-starlink-spacex-trump-betrayal-putin-russia-war — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/ukraine-zelenskyy-starlink-spacex-trump-betrayal-putin-russia-war
11. Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian oil refineries, officials say, after brief truce — https://wvtf.org/2026/10/ukraine-resumes-attacks-on-russian-oil-refineries-officials-say-after-brief-truce/
12. Zelenskyy confirmed that the United States threatened to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries - NPR — https://unn.ua/en/news/2026-10-14/zelenskyy-confirmed-that-the-united-states-threatened-to-suspend-intelligence-sharing-with-ukraine-over-strikes-on-russian-oil-refineries-npr
13. Zelenskyy confirms US threat to stop intelligence sharing with Ukraine over refinery attacks — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/14/7424075/
14. Ukraine latest: Volodymyr Zelensky, Elon Musk, Russia war — https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/2026/10/15/ukraine-latest-volodymyr-zelensky-elon-musk-russia-war/
15. Ukrainian drones hit oil terminal, data center, and bridge in St. Petersburg — https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-hit-oil-terminal-data-center-and-bridge-in-st-petersburg/
16. Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, Data Centre, And Bridge — https://marineinsight.com/shipping-news/massive-ukrainian-drone-attack-hits-st-petersburg-oil-terminal-data-centre-and-bridge/
17. Ukrainian drone strikes set oil export terminal and depot ablaze in St. Petersburg — https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ukrainian-drone-strikes-set-oil-export-terminal-and-depot-ablaze-in-st-petersburg/article68770744.ece
18. https://kyivpost.com/war/24430 — https://kyivpost.com/war/24430
19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_jZ5pD-3xQ — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_jZ5pD-3xQ
20. Zelenskyy To Meet With Trump Envoy In Oslo For Peace Talks — https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-trump-envoy-talks-oslo/32098028.html
21. Trump's Envoy To Visit Russia And Norway For Ukraine War Talks — https://8am.media/eng/trumps-envoy-to-visit-russia-and-norway-for-ukraine-war-talks/
22. Зеленський провів переговори з Віткофом і Кушнером: що відомо — https://nv.ua/ukr/world/geopolitics/zelenskiy-proviv-peregovori-z-vitkofom-i-kushnerom-shcho-vidomo-50470295.html
23. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-798835 — https://www.jpost.com/international/article-798835
24. https://www.azernews.az/region/225301.html — https://www.azernews.az/region/225301.html
25. Trump Strikes Diesel Deal With Russia, Raising Concerns From Ukraine and Allies — https://www.cfr.org/blog/trump-strikes-diesel-deal-russia-raising-concerns-ukraine-and-allies
26. Trump signs off on Russia diesel deal, drawing sharp criticism from Kyiv — https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/09/trump-russia-diesel-deal-ukraine-nato
27. Trump strikes deal with Putin for Russian diesel in sharp reversal of U.S. policy ahead of midterms — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-strikes-deal-with-putin-for-russian-diesel-in-sharp-reversal-of-u-s-policy-ahead-of-midterms
28. https://time.com/6249767/trump-russia-ukraine-energy-ceasefire/ — https://time.com/6249767/trump-russia-ukraine-energy-ceasefire/
29. Ukraine Resumes Strikes on Russian Energy Facilities Despite Trump's Call for Energy Cease-Fire — https://www.military.com/daily-news/2026/10/16/ukraine-resumes-strikes-russian-energy-facilities-despite-trumps-call-energy-cease-fire.html
30. Vladimir Putin proposes trilateral meeting with Trump and Xi Jinping on Ukraine: Report — https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/vladimir-putin-proposes-trilateral-meeting-with-trump-and-xi-jinping-on-ukraine-report-101666014498305.html
31. Putin Proposes Trilateral Summit With Trump And Xi To Discuss Ukraine War — https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-10-19-putin-proposes-trilateral-summit-with-trump-and-xi-to-discuss-ukraine-war/
32. Putin Proposes Trump-Xi Summit on Ukraine — Without Kyiv: Report — https://www.military.com/daily-news/2026/10/19/putin-proposes-trump-xi-summit-on-ukraine-without-kyiv-report.html
33. Putin proposes trilateral summit with Trump, Xi to discuss Ukraine war: Report — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/putin-proposes-trilateral-summit-with-trump-xi-to-discuss-ukraine-war-report/articleshow/96645398.cms
34. Putin Proposes Trilateral Summit With Trump And Xi On Ukraine — https://defence24.com/geopolitics/putin-proposes-trilateral-summit-with-trump-and-xi-on-ukraine
35. EU leaders are unhappy with Trump’s diesel deal with Russia — https://www.eadaily.com/en/news/2026/10/14/eu-leaders-are-unhappy-with-trump-s-diesel-deal-with-russia
36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-hZ3bQY2X8 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-hZ3bQY2X8
37. Zelenskyy accuses US of deliberately delaying interceptor missiles for Ukraine — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/zelenskyy-accuses-us-deliberately-delaying-interceptor-missiles-ukraine
38. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the White House ordered restrictions on Starlink operations in Ukraine — https://babel.ua/en/news/108991-the-us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-denied-that-the-white-house-ordered-restrictions-on-starlink-operations-in-ukraine
39. Rubio denies US ordered restrictions on Starlink for Ukraine, says technical problems — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/20/7424263/
40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1hZ8E4_q9c — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1hZ8E4_q9c
41. Marco Rubio Says The Starlink Slowdown Was Never Ordered: Inside The Disabling Of Ukraine's Air Defenses — https://www.latintimes.com/marco-rubio-says-the-starlink-slowdown-was-never-ordered-inside-the-disabling-of-ukraines-air-defenses-517865
42. Зеленський провів переговори з Рубіо про перехоплювачі ракет, раннє попередження і Starlink — https://nv.ua/ukr/world/geopolitics/zelenskiy-proviv-peregovori-z-rubio-pro-perehoplyuvachi-raket-rannye-poperedzhennya-i-starlink-50470438.html