On October 18, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over the reduced supply of Patriot missiles from the US in an interview with Bloomberg, stating that Ukraine is receiving only 12 missiles per month, which is four times less than during Joe Biden's administration.
Pressure on Ukraine and Zelensky's Proposal
Zelensky believes there are attempts to push Ukraine towards surrender. He emphasized that he does not want to believe that the US aims to end the war at Ukraine's expense, but the situation appears to be so. The president proposed to stop attacks on Russian diesel fuel in exchange for Patriot missiles to protect Ukrainian facilities. However, according to him, the US insists only on halting strikes and threatens to reduce support.
Prospects for Ukraine-US Relations
Zelensky also noted that after the midterm elections in the US, scheduled for November 3, relations between Kyiv and Washington may improve. He expressed hope that the situation would become calmer, and mentioned that currently Donald Trump does not have the ability to force Putin to end the war.
Trump's Statements and Reaction to Strikes on Russia
In response to Zelensky's statements, Trump claims that the Ukrainian president does not want to end the war. He also criticizes Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, believing that this leads to rising global diesel prices. Trump noted that Ukraine could have reached a more favorable agreement two years ago, but now the country has suffered significant losses.