Trump Cuts Russia Sanctions and Stalls Starlink as Ukraine Says It’s Being Sold Out

US President Donald Trump has suspended several sanctions on Russia that Congress recently passed, citing national security concerns, as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorate sharply [264961][263938]. The move came as European leaders rallied around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, amid growing fears that Washington is increasingly siding with Moscow [263938].

Tensions between the two capitals have escalated over sanctions, attacks on energy infrastructure and restrictions on satellite communications [263378]. Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets, and Zelensky angered him further by ordering Ukrainian forces to restart strikes on Russian oil refineries [263938]. Zelensky has vowed to continue those strikes despite a direct demand from Trump to stop them [263378].

The rift has raised new questions about Trump's relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. A top American envoy praised Putin as a "humanitarian," and Trump describes his dealings with Putin as part of a major deal that secured the release of American detainee Stephen Hubbard and, he says, will end Russia's war on Ukraine [267862]. Trump has also said Russia has been "fine" toward Ukraine — the same day a Russian drone killed six people, including a 14-month-old girl, in a public park in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast [267251].

In Kyiv, Ukrainian forces cancelled military missions after a major disruption to the Starlink satellite network, raising fears that American support is fading [262589]. The White House and Elon Musk are blaming each other for slowing Starlink service in Ukraine, a slowdown that reduced Ukraine's defensive military capabilities, according to a draft; Zelensky said Marco Rubio told him the issue would be "unblocked" [267587]. Ukraine also faces a serious crisis as Zelensky accuses the Trump administration of withholding interceptor missiles, a move that would be devastating for its air defense [267229].

The strain is visible inside Trump's own party. A group of Republican lawmakers is pushing back against his softening stance on Russia and threatening to cut financial support for his agenda. Don Bacon, an outgoing Nebraska congressman, condemned Trump's recent actions as "absolutely disgraceful" and accused the president of cozying up to a "war criminal," referring to Putin [267429].

Zelensky, speaking in Oslo, said Washington has reaffirmed its commitment to providing Ukraine with security guarantees, and insisted that "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" can be decided [267534]. His remarks came as US envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia for talks with Putin, raising questions about whether a deal could be reached without Kyiv at the table [267534].