October 15, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his feeling of “betrayal” by US President Donald Trump, in an indication that reflects the depth of the gap between Kiev and Washington. These statements came during an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, following discussions Zelensky held on Wednesday in London with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which focused on military support for Kiev and the challenges associated with communications and intelligence services.
In response to a direct question about his feeling of betrayal by Trump, Zelensky replied: “Frankly, yes. Between you and me, I really feel that way,” considering that the US President’s advisors “are wrong and are pushing him in the wrong direction.” He added that the matter is “a little more complicated than just my emotions or feelings,” expressing his regret for his country’s loss of a “strong partner.”
These developments come against the backdrop of escalating crises that include a US-Russian agreement regarding diesel supplies, in addition to sharp disagreements over the exchange of intelligence information and “Starlink” services. Last Saturday, Trump said that Zelensky ignored American warnings not to target Russian oil refineries, indicating that Kiev should have concluded a peace agreement with Moscow a long time ago, and that the time has come for Ukraine to choose a leader ready to reach a settlement.
In the same context, CNN reported on Monday that the US Departments of Defense and State issued warnings to Kiev of the possibility of suspending the exchange of intelligence information. On Wednesday, Zelensky expressed his dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian forces being deprived of American data related to the launch of Russian ballistic missiles for the second day in a row. At the same time, Ukrainian presidential advisor Sergei Beskrestnov confirmed that SpaceX had reduced the speed of the Starlink system used on the ground in Ukraine.
On the other hand, the Russian side commented on these developments; Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov believed that the diesel agreement between Moscow and Washington contributes to conveying a message that Russia is continuing to achieve its goals in Ukraine. In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large, Rodion Miroshnik, considered that Trump’s statements and American settlement proposals were what prompted Zelensky to head to Britain.
