'It's not supportive': Ukraine's Zelenskyy laments lack of US assistance in war with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed a willingness to make a deal to end his country's war with Russia and lamented diminished U.S. assistance in the conflict in an interview with ABC News on Friday.
Zelenskyy affirmed that he would make a peace deal today if he could and reiterated that Ukraine is open to freezing the ongoing conflict along the current front lines in order to bring the nearly five-year war to an end.
"We are ready to stop this war as quick as possible," Zelenskyy told ABC News.
Russia currently controls more than 19% of Ukraine's territory, Zelenskyy said, but Ukraine is not willing to cede even more territory in order to bring about the end of the war.
The White House has recently intensified pressure on Zelenskyy to make concessions to secure a peace deal with Moscow, with President Donald Trump repeatedly blaming Kyiv for the lack of progress in U.S.-sponsored peace talks.
Trump, who earlier this month lifted Russian oil sanctions to allow for diesel imports amid high fuel prices, has also pressed Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy has criticized the move as playing into Russia's hands and allowing them to prolong the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said he does not feel betrayed by the U.S., but he lamented the lack of U.S. assistance.
"I feel what I feel," Zelenskyy said. "It's not supportive."
Zelenskyy, who's had a somewhat tumultuous relationship with Trump over the years, was at a loss to explain what, if anything, had gone wrong between the two amid Trump's apparent warming up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I don't know if it's wrong or not, because it's his personal decision to be friends with Putin or not," Zelenskyy said.
"I think they're in quite very good relations, yes," Zelenskyy said of Trump's relationship with Putin.
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine has received only 24 Patriot interceptor missiles from the U.S. in the last three months when it needs many more than that.
On Thursday night alone, 30 ballistic missiles hit Ukrainian capital Kyiv, he said. Ukraine would need 350 Patriot interceptors a month, on average, according to Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy added that he remains grateful to the U.S. for its partnership in its war with Russia, but acquiesced he is not always "polite" in his demeanor.
"Ukraine can't have weak president now," Zelenskyy explained.
"Of course I'm a normal person, I'm just human, maybe not such a big humanitarian as Putin, of course," he added.
"Like between friends, like in the family, you have to be honest, not to play games. I don't play games with Trump. This is my difference between me and Putin. I don't play with him any games. I'm direct, honest," he said.
Last week, U.S. government-owned satellite infrastructure used by Ukraine's military for drone navigation and air defense was not operating at its normal functionality.
Asked if he believes Putin requested that Trump to turn off intelligence-sharing between the U.S. and Ukraine, Zelenskyy responded, "I don't know. I hope, I trust and I hope God bless. No."
Zelenskyy also told ABC News on Friday that the Starlink network, which is crucial for the country's military operations, is still not fully working, despite assurances from Trump.
"It works, but it's still limited," Zelenskyy said, telling ABC News that the network's range was narrow.
Trump was asked about possible ongoing problems with the network when he met reporters at the White House on Friday, responding that he hadn't spoken to Elon Musk -- whose company SpaceX runs Starlink -- about it yet.
"I've heard it was fixed, but if it's not, I'll speak to him," the president said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday denied that the U.S. had ever paused or changed intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
This week, the Trump administration denied ordering a slowdown in Starshield and Starlink-supported networks, with administration officials pointing to Elon Musk's SpaceX -- which runs the network -- for the change.
In a post on X last week, Musk addressed the government's relationship to Starlink and its missile-tracking Starshield program.
"Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," he wrote. "Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company."
Amid the heightened strain, Ukrainian officials have also reported Russian ballistic missile attacks without the kind of warning from partners that has been typical in the conflict.
Zelenskyy previously said Ukrainian military officials were told by U.S. counterparts there would be consequences for not halting the long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, including a suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Following talks with U.S. officials, Zelenskyy said Tuesday the early warning system had resumed.
"Starlink service will be restored within the next 48 hours", Zelenskyy said on Tuesday at a press conference in Oslo. "As for the ballistic missile launch warning system, we are grateful to the Americans. It is working now. That is excellent."
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday for the latest round of U.S.-led peace talks to end Moscow's ongoing invasion, which the Kremlin launched in February 2022. The talks came a day after Witkoff met with Zelenskyy in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
Putin said Thursday that Russia is ready to resume trilateral talks "to discuss ensuring the security of Ukraine and Russia once peace agreements have been reached -- in their final form."
Amid the diplomatic efforts, Russia and Ukraine have continued to trade massive strikes.
ABC News' Bruno Roeber and Desiree Adib contributed to this report.
