Trump Cuts Ukraine’s Starlink and Backs Russian Diesel in 3-Day Blitz
The US has moved sharply against Ukraine and toward Russia, lifting sanctions on Russian diesel, demanding Ukraine stop striking Russian oil, and slowing Starlink service that Ukraine relies on for air defense warnings.
In just three days, Washington has taken a series of actions that favor Russia and pressure Ukraine. The United States lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 2027, called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to step down, and declared an "energy ceasefire" that only asks Ukraine to stop firing [262705]. President Donald Trump also said Ukraine must stop attacking Russian oil refineries and needs a new president [259122].
Ukrainian officials and international figures have condemned the diesel deal. Zelenskyy warned the move "plays into Russia's hands" and undermines sanctions on Moscow [258624]. Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine's third president, invoked the Budapest Memorandum and Pearl Harbor in his response, warning that the sanctions waiver finances an economy geared toward total war [262707]. Nobel Peace laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk said Trump is "openly financing" Russia's war, adding that the extra money "will be converted in rockets and drones and additional deaths among the civilian population" [263388].
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide criticized the move, saying, "It is an opposite signal from what we need now," noting that Western countries had stood together to tighten sanctions on Russia's most important export [259122].
Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil facilities after ending a pause that followed pressure from the Trump administration. The pause was intended to secure an energy truce announced by the United States, but during that time Russia continued striking Ukrainian power plants [262693]. Zelenskyy vowed to continue strikes on Russian oil refineries, defying Trump's direct demand [263378].
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Moscow of failing to respect the energy ceasefire deal, saying Russia did not honor the agreement "for a single minute." She called for more pressure on Russia [263435].
Meanwhile, the US decision to slow SpaceX's Starlink service had an immediate effect on Ukraine's defenses. On Wednesday, air raid warnings failed [263392]. Elon Musk said he—not SpaceX—was directed by Trump to limit Ukraine's Starlink access, which has crippled Ukrainian drone missions [262698]. The mobile internet system is critical for Ukraine's air defenses, and limiting it hurts Kyiv's ability to intercept incoming attacks more than it affects Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries [262889].
The timing is dangerous. Zelenskyy said that for two nights in a row, Western allies failed to warn Ukraine about incoming ballistic missiles. Without warnings, no air raid alerts were issued. Overnight, Russia bombed three power plants that supply Kyiv, aiming to cut off heating and electricity to the city as winter approaches [262889].
A diplomat said Trump is pressuring Ukraine, not Russia, to end the war, using military aid and intelligence sharing as leverage over Kyiv. The diplomat said Trump is not applying the same pressure to Moscow [262701].
Trump and Elon Musk have put their 2025 falling-out behind them, showing renewed closeness in public and working together on Ukraine and the US midterm elections [262711].