Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the United States for its intelligence support during a recent conversation with Senator Marco Rubio. He highlighted that early warnings are crucial for safeguarding civilians amid Russia’s ballistic missile threats.
In his remarks, Zelensky stated, “We appreciate that intelligence is working now, particularly regarding early warnings that are vital for our people, including children and adults. This allows us to receive alerts about incoming ballistic missiles.”
The President also mentioned that during his journey to Oslo, he had a productive phone call with Rubio, where they discussed critical issues including intelligence data, the Starlink communication system, and interceptor missiles. They agreed to reconnect in approximately 48 hours.
Additionally, Zelensky is looking forward to Rubio’s response regarding Starlink and Patriot systems, hoping for favorable outcomes.
Context
- On October 14, reports emerged that Starlink terminals used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were experiencing connectivity issues at high speeds. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, indicated that military service limitations were determined by the US military and former President Donald Trump. By October 15, some media reported the restoration of service, yet Zelensky noted that not all restrictions had been lifted.
- Furthermore, during Russian ballistic missile attacks on October 12, 13, and 19, Ukraine did not receive warnings from American partners about missile launches. The President also confirmed that Washington had threatened to halt intelligence sharing unless Ukraine ceased strikes on Russian oil facilities.
