Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky conveyed his feelings of betrayal and pain during an interview on Wednesday regarding former President Donald Trump’s support for the opposing side in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. This statement comes after Trump suggested that Zelensky should be replaced and accepted a diesel supply agreement with Moscow, according to reports.
In the interview with Piers Morgan, Zelensky remarked, “It is painful when President Trump chooses a side, but not ours.” He emphasized that while he does not mind Trump acting as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, it is crucial for Trump to remain impartial. “If you are in the middle, you must stay there, not choose the wrong side,” he stated.
Zelensky expressed concern over Trump’s advisers, indicating they are leading him astray. “I believe his advisers are mistaken. I do not know who is pushing him, but they are not directing him toward the right side, because this is not the correct side of history,” he said.
When asked if he feels betrayed by Trump, who recently called for a change in Ukraine’s leadership due to the diesel agreement, Zelensky responded, “Honestly, yes… but it’s a bit more complicated than my simple emotions or feelings.” He lamented the loss of a strong partner in the U.S.
Zelensky also asserted, “We do not sell our country… it is not a matter of business for us, it is simply about our lives, and this is our country.” While Trump’s support wanes, Zelensky continues to receive unconditional backing from other sources.
Accusations Against Elon Musk
During the half-hour interview, Zelensky also accused SpaceX CEO Elon Musk of restricting Ukraine’s access to the Starlink internet system, which, according to Kyiv officials, has disrupted key military operations. “I am sure they knew exactly what they were doing,” he said, highlighting that Starlink was blocked at 1 a.m. by SpaceX and the U.S.
“This is not just about attack. It is also about defending life,” he added. Zelensky noted that lives have been lost due to insufficient destruction means and interception systems, which included Starlink not functioning. “People will die, of course, if attacks continue and Starlink does not work. I sincerely hope this is merely an error, perhaps a major technical issue, I do not know, but we ask for the service to be restored,” he told Morgan.
He termed the disruption of Starlink services, used for battlefield communication in Ukraine, as a “major error.”
Russia Announces Upcoming Diesel Contracts
Moscow indicated on Wednesday that it expects to sign the first contracts for exporting Russian diesel to markets “in the next few days,” following the agreement between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump announced last week.
“Everything will be done in the next few days,” said Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin advisor for international economic cooperation, according to AFP and Agerpres. He added that Moscow and Washington are working closely to resolve numerous logistical issues to implement this quickly and efficiently.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak confirmed that the “development of supply contracts” is currently underway between the two countries’ ministries and enterprises. “Deliveries will be made to global markets, including directly to the U.S.,” he noted. Novak stated that Russia would be able to deliver a timely “level of 3 to 3.5 million tons, which is the level Russia provided to world markets” prior to Western sanctions.
This arrangement is expected to reduce prices, which have been rising globally since the beginning of the Israel-American war in the Middle East. Novak expressed satisfaction that this agreement would provide “additional tax revenues for the budget” and “investment opportunities,” as Russian military spending has surged since the war in Ukraine began.
The American-Russian agreement on diesel has faced criticism from Europeans and President Zelensky, who deemed it “weak” and “undignified.” Trump maintained that he made the “right choice for the American people,” while his administration criticized the “hypocrisy” of European nations, which continued to purchase massive amounts of Russian hydrocarbons since 2022 despite the sanctions.
