Zelensky urges US lawmakers for clarification on shifting aid policies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with a bipartisan group of US senators and representatives by videoconference on Oct. 19 to raise concerns over recent adjustments in American assistance to Ukraine. The briefing, organized by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Thom Tillis, highlighted delayed deliveries of Patriot interceptors, continued speed caps on Starlink services for Ukrainian forces, and the cessation of advance warnings about Russian missile launches.

Zelensky described the situation as the most difficult since the war began and contrasted battlefield gains, such as the Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive in Donetsk Oblast, with the emerging challenges. He warned that Russian attacks had become more frequent and intense, noting that "there is hardly an hour when Russia isn't attacking somewhere or hitting something. And this happens every single day."

"All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down support for us. ... We want to understand what is happening, why it's happening, and where all this is heading," Zelensky told the lawmakers.

The president also said Ukraine had proposed a 30-day moratorium on attacks on Russian refineries in exchange for Patriot supplies, a proposal that received no response from the United States. He noted that the Pentagon had not approved the transfer of Patriot missiles already funded through the US-NATO PURL program.

The briefing occurred as US President Donald Trump, who was re-elected in January 2025, has recently shifted his public stance on Ukraine, including announcing a purchase of Russian diesel and supporting restrictions on Starlink access. The White House has denied ordering the Starlink limitations or withholding missile-strike warnings, and the administration defended the diesel deal despite bipartisan criticism.

"Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine," Trump said to reporters on Oct. 19.

Zelensky’s appeal seeks clarification on the policy changes and their impact on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections.