US Threatens to Cut Ukraine's Lifeline as Europe Weighs €210 Billion in Frozen Russian Cash
Zelensky says he feels betrayed as Washington threatens to stop sharing intelligence and Starlink access wobbles, while Europe debates using €210 billion in frozen Russian Central Bank assets to keep Kyiv fighting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he feels "betrayed" as the United States threatens to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine, a move that could severely weaken Kyiv's ability to defend itself [262716]. The threat comes as new restrictions on the Starlink satellite network are already hurting Ukraine's defense, limiting its ability to fight back while Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure increase [262716].
American satellite systems and intelligence sharing are critical to Ukraine's defense against Russian attacks, but the flow of Starlink service has been inconsistent, exposing a key vulnerability [262664]. Ukraine relies heavily on American satellites and spy data to defend itself, and while Europe and Ukraine have made progress in some areas, they still lag behind in others [262664].
The pressure on Ukraine's battlefield support comes alongside two other developments that have alarmed observers and revived a major debate in Europe: the United States and Russia have reached a diesel agreement, and the US has suspended intelligence sharing with Kyiv [262714]. At the center of the debate is what should be done with €210 billion (210 billion euros) in Russian Central Bank assets frozen in Europe [262714]. Brussels could redirect these funds to help finance Ukraine's resistance [262714].
The frozen assets debate has also reopened old wounds in Germany, where a trial over the Nord Stream pipeline explosion puts the country in a difficult position [262401]. The trial revives old conflicts about buying Russian gas and risks becoming a weapon for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party against German support for Ukraine [262401].
Meanwhile, Slovakia is restoring military-diplomatic relations with Russia for the first time since 2022 [261565]. The government defends the move, but critics warn it raises espionage risks and could further damage trust within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) [261565].