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US President Donald Trump could use strategic pressure on Ukraine if Kyiv does not comply with Washington’s demands. According to an analysis by Politico, citing experts and diplomatic sources, the White House could stop sharing US intelligence with Kyiv or put pressure on Elon Musk to suspend Starlink satellite internet, which Ukraine’s armed forces rely on extensively for operational communications along the front line.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that, according to the publication’s assessment, a surprise agreement between the United States and Russia on diesel fuel supplies comes at a sensitive time, as Ukraine faces a difficult energy and military situation ahead of winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized the diesel agreement between Washington and Moscow, calling it a “weak decision,” and defended the continued strikes on oil refineries in Russia. Politico reports that, in response to Kyiv’s position, Trump said it was time for a change of government in Ukraine and new presidential elections.
Analysts say that if Kyiv ignores the US administration’s demands and maintains its current course, Washington could cut off intelligence support and satellite communications that are vital to the Ukrainian military.
Trump has previously accused Zelenskyy of creating tensions globally, saying he had missed opportunities to settle the conflict peacefully and that Ukraine needed a new political leader.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, has repeatedly said Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he were ready for dialogue. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also said Moscow’s position remained unchanged and that a meeting could be arranged in Moscow, with all security guarantees provided, if Kyiv’s leadership wished. Peskov added that Ukraine’s leadership understood what political decisions should be made under the current circumstances.
