The waiver came days after a deal with Putin <\/a>to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market as fuel prices soar.<\/p>\n At the same time, Zelenskyy said, U.S. intelligence sharing was briefly \u201cblocked,\u201d blinding Ukraine to incoming ballistic missiles, while limits have been placed on Starlink technology <\/a>critical to intercept jet-powered drones.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy told moderator Kristen Welker that Ukrainian officials believe the decision to limit Starlink, imposed by Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX, came in response to a \u201cmessage from American government.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. has been Ukraine\u2019s most significant backer across four and a half years of war, but personal relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have appeared severely strained in recent weeks, with each offering public criticisms of the other.<\/p>\n Asked about Trump\u2019s remark this week<\/a> that the Ukrainian leader was \u201cmore difficult to deal with than Putin,\u201d Zelenskyy said he was \u201cvery honest\u201d with Trump.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s not very polite,\u201d he said, but it is \u201cbetter to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers, even with a smile on their face.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelenskyy, who accused the U.S. of betraying Kyiv last week, said that his feelings have not changed. He warned that Trump\u2019s diesel deal with Russia \u201cwill strengthen Putin in his will to occupy us.\u201d<\/p>\n Announcing the deal week, Trump expressed hopes that it would go some way to address soaring fuel costs.<\/p>\n But Zelenskyy said the deal wouldn\u2019t have \u201ca real influence\u201d on the price of oil in the U.S. because the rising prices were due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, not Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know all the reasons why President Trump makes such deals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Of the prospect of the U.S. more formally siding with Russia, he said: \u201cIf these two countries will be together … we will not prevail, and we will not be able to stand.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelenskyy said it was a \u201cpity\u201d Trump had waived the sanctions in a bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who he said was \u201ca great supporter of peace and of Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe invested his life and time because he really believed in Ukraine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In a separate interview on \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., defended Trump\u2019s decision to lift the Russia sanctions.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s trying to walk this fine balance between trying to be able to put pressure on Russia, but also to be able to help the American people, so he is choosing the American people first is what he\u2019s doing,\u201d Lankford said, pointing to high gas prices. <\/p>\n Asked whether Trump\u2019s moves indicate the president is siding with Putin, Lankford said that Trump was \u201csiding with the free people of Ukraine,\u201d adding later that Trump was working to get the two countries \u201cto the table to be able to negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n The war has seen little recent movement on the frontline, with Russia continuing to occupy around a fifth of Ukraine. Trump had vowed to end the conflict within days of his second term, but peace talks have effectively stalled, with Ukraine saying that Russia has rejected a short-term ceasefire and that Putin\u2019s terms for peace are tantamount to a full surrender.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, another difficult winter looms for Ukrainian civilians, with a critical munitions shortage <\/a>limiting Zelenskyy\u2019s ability to defend infrastructure against Russian strikes.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy said he was due to speak to U.S. negotiators by phone later Sunday and was still hopeful of a meeting in the days ahead. \u201cI\u2019m very open for this, even with all the difficult circumstances,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He cited some progress after a multiday interruption to U.S. intelligence about incoming Russian ballistic missiles, which he said has now been \u201cdeblocked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very thankful for this,\u201d he said. \u201cNow it works.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792330450003_mtp_clip_lankfordgraham_261018_S3_1920x1080-5jxcf3.jpg\")
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