The US president would not directly blame the Russian leader for the 2022 invasion, widening a rift with Britain and other Nato allies as Washington faces questions over restrictions on Kyiv’s military satellite access.
President Donald Trump has declined to say that Vladimir Putin started the war in Ukraine, again putting him at odds with the UK and most other Nato members. Asked whether he had forgotten that the Russian leader launched the 2022 invasion, he did not answer directly and implied the matter was not straightforward. He also denied the US was responsible for the disruption to Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite communications system. Nine US senators have since asked for an inquiry into what happened.
What Trump said
Mr Trump spoke as he left the White House for a campaign rally in Georgia. On the details of his approach to the war, he said: “I know the details, OK, and at some point I’ll release the details.” He added: “But I don’t care anything except for one. I want that war ended.”
He again criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he was “not a big fan” and was “more difficult to deal with than Putin”. He previously suggested Ukraine needed a new leader and claimed Mr Putin wanted a peace deal more.
Mr Zelensky, at a summit in Brussels on Friday, signalled that he agreed with the suggestion that he was being made a scapegoat for soaring fuel prices linked to the Iran war, which the US and Israel launched in February. Ahead of the US midterm elections next month, Mr Trump has increasingly blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for higher energy costs, rather than the disruption to Middle East oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Starlink dispute
Mr Trump denied that the US was responsible for the disruption to Starlink, which left Ukraine exposed to attack. Reuters reported that US and Western officials indicated the instruction to restrict Ukraine’s Starshield military service came from inside the White House, and that Pentagon officials were directed to impose limits. The person who authorised the restrictions has not been publicly identified. Mr Trump denies issuing the instruction and says he does not believe Elon Musk was responsible. No completed investigation has established individual responsibility, so there is a factual dispute between the president’s denial and the officials’ account.
Mr Zelensky said the satellite service had not been completely switched off. Instead, he said, speed limits were imposed on certain connected systems. He said some capabilities were restricted to about 70km/h, while Russian jet-powered Shahed drones can fly at around 400km/h. That stopped Ukrainian forces using some equipment needed to intercept the drones. Other reporting describes a 160km/h cap on terminals in motion, so the technical limits seem to differ between accounts or systems.
He said Ukraine had received indications that capabilities would be restored and had seen some improvement, but not a return to the previous level. Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said discussions were under way with SpaceX and the Pentagon on removing the restrictions. Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is also working with several countries, including France, on alternatives or supplementary systems, although EU officials acknowledge that Europe cannot immediately replace Starlink’s full military capability.
Senators demand an investigation
A bipartisan group of nine US senators wrote to the Department of Defense inspector general asking for an investigation into the Starshield disruption. The letter is dated 15 October and was publicised on Friday. The signatories are Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Dick Durbin, Jack Reed, Chris Coons and Richard Blumenthal, and Republicans Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, John Cornyn and Lisa Murkowski.
They say US diplomatic, military and security personnel in Ukraine reportedly had difficulty reaching designated shelters during Russian air raids because of disruption to intelligence sharing and warning systems. The senators want investigators to determine whether American officials approved or knew about the restrictions, whether the disruptions came from government decisions, contractors or technical failures, whether US personnel were put at risk, and what is being done to prevent a repeat. They asked for an initial briefing by 1 November 2026.
Europe’s response
At the Brussels summit, Mr Zelensky asked European leaders for about €70bn to meet Ukraine’s defence and financial needs in 2027. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated the EU could potentially cover around two-thirds. Options reportedly include unused defence loans and additional borrowing. The money has not been fully agreed.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that work is under way on a 22nd sanctions package against Russia, and described co-operation with Washington on Ukraine as increasingly difficult. French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the US arrangement allowing Russian diesel to reach world markets, arguing it risked giving Moscow extra revenue. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended Ukraine’s right to hit Russian military and energy infrastructure in response to Russian attacks. He said there was broad European agreement on continuing support, though disagreements remain over funding.
Energy ceasefire and diesel
On 11 October, Mr Trump announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure. Mr Zelensky disputed that Kyiv had agreed, and Ukraine continued to report Russian attacks on its energy facilities while its forces also targeted Russian oil infrastructure.
The Trump administration has temporarily eased restrictions on Russian diesel exports to help bring down fuel costs. Mr Zelensky argues that more Russian petroleum sales strengthen Moscow’s finances. The agreement reportedly followed repeated US requests that Ukraine stop attacking Russian refineries, and a US official told Axios that Mr Trump pursued it after Kyiv declined. The White House presents its approach as a way to ease energy prices and encourage diplomacy, while Ukraine and several European leaders say the benefits to Russia could undermine efforts to end the war.
