Trump Berates Zelensky, Praises Putin as U.S. Moves to Restrict Ukraine’s Communications
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President Donald Trump told Newsmax that he finds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky harder to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin, while reports said the White House ordered limits on Ukraine’s access to SpaceX satellite communications. The remarks and the reported communications clampdown intensified criticism that Washington is pressuring Kyiv while coddling Moscow.
President Donald Trump told Newsmax that he considers Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "not a good guy for us to deal with" and said he finds Zelensky "more difficult to deal with than Putin." Trump added that both leaders dislike each other and that the conflict should end soon, language that critics say echoes a familiar pattern of blaming Ukraine while soft-pedaling Russian aggression.
The remarks came as reports emerged that the White House had directed a reduction in Ukrainian access to SpaceX’s Starshield satellite service, which provides frontline communications. Ukrainian officials said the limitation affected early-warning systems and other military-grade intelligence feeds, raising alarm that Washington was willing to undercut Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities.
Zelensky responded by accusing Trump of favoring Putin, stating, "He speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people. Because for him people who can be leaders 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, it means they can be very strong."
The White House has not confirmed which official issued the order, and the administration denied that it threatened to cut off military intelligence. A spokesperson for SpaceX’s founder Elon Musk said the network is "owned and controlled by the U.S. government" and that any usage limits are set by the U.S. military and the president.
The comments occur amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, where Russian forces have continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, resulting in casualties and power outages. The dispute over communications access adds tension to the already strained U.S.–Ukraine relationship, as Kyiv faces war pressures and Washington appears increasingly willing to wield leverage over a besieged ally.