Zelensky defends Ukraine right to strike after Trump rebuke
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defends his country's right to self-defense after Donald Trump calls recent strikes a disgrace amid tensions over diesel and Starlink.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Zelensky defends Ukraine's right to carry out defensive strikes against Russia.
- Trump criticizes the attacks and claims Zelensky is harder to deal with than Putin.
- Chronic Patriot missile shortages and Starlink curbs add heavy pressure on Kyiv.
- Next year's war cost is projected at 155 billion euros to survive winter.
Relations between Washington and Kyiv have hit a critical juncture after US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Ukraine's latest wave of strikes as a disgrace and claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky was harder to deal with than Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The soaring diplomatic friction stems largely from a controversial diesel import deal brokered by Washington with Moscow and sudden curbs placed on Ukraine's vital battlefield satellite network.
Addressing the European Council summit, Zelensky revealed staggering financial figures, stating that the war will cost 155 billion euros next year. At least 70 billion euros of that funding must come from the European Union specifically for defense and weapons to help the country endure another freezing winter, marking the fifth since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
A fundamental vulnerability for Kyiv is the chronic shortage of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles required to protect its towns and cities. Although Zelensky believes Europe possesses enough interceptors for the winter, he criticized the current distribution method as being handled in a piecemeal and fragmented fashion.
The ongoing disputes over energy infrastructure and communication technology like Starlink highlight how deeply intertwined Ukraine's defense is with American domestic politics, particularly ahead of the mid-term elections where surging domestic fuel prices directly impact the White House's political standing.
The friction deepened after Trump abruptly announced an energy infrastructure ceasefire last week. Kyiv initially agreed to halt strikes if Moscow reciprocated, but Moscow denied agreeing to any terms and continued its assaults. After a three-day pause, Kyiv resumed its refinery strikes, prompting heavy retaliation and temporary airspace closures over Moscow.
"Very dangerous and unpleasant surprise"
Volodymyr Zelensky
Compounding these military challenges, the US-owned Starlink internet network experienced severe speed restrictions on Tuesday night just as deadly Russian drone strikes hit Kharkiv without warning. Zelensky on Friday described the slowdown as a very dangerous and unpleasant surprise that has yet to be fully resolved by the administration.
Meanwhile, intelligence reports and satellite imagery show that Russia has nearly finished constructing a new drone base near the Millerovo airbase in the Rostov region within just six weeks, signaling preparations for intensified winter strikes. In response, Ukrainian missile attacks successfully destroyed several Su-34 fighter bombers at the Borisoglebsk airbase in the Voronezh region, proving Kyiv's ongoing counter-offensive capabilities.
Source: BBC World
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