Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Sunday with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in what appeared to be an effort to ease tensions that have strained relations between Kyiv and Washington in recent days.
The phone call came as Russia and Ukraine intensified reciprocal strikes on energy infrastructure. Russian attacks left thousands of people without electricity, while St. Petersburg was hit by the largest Ukrainian drone attack on the city since the conflict began in 2022.
In his daily address, Zelensky said he had spoken with Witkoff and Kushner, adding that “our teams continue to exchange views and remain in daily contact.”
He said they discussed the delivery of US Patriot air defense systems, as Ukraine faces difficulties intercepting Russian missiles.
Zelensky had earlier told US broadcaster NBC that any official US support for Russia would be a “historic mistake,” expressing hope that Donald Trump would “reverse his decisions.”
However, Zelensky also expressed his “gratitude” for the resumption of US intelligence-sharing after a disruption that left Ukraine vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile strikes.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday condemned what he described as “irresponsible” remarks by the Ukrainian president, who had accused Washington of being behind restrictions on the military version of the Starlink satellite network in Ukraine.
Bessent said Zelensky “should be extremely careful before making reckless statements of this nature.”
For his part, Zelensky said in a social media post that Ukraine was keeping its partners “fully informed about the situation on the ground, which is marked by unrelenting Russian strikes and challenges related to air defense.” He stressed that “a great deal depends specifically on America’s position” on this issue.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia’s oil revenues, a move that drew condemnation from Ukraine.
Trump’s decision came after he agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume Russian diesel exports to US and global markets in exchange for easing US sanctions.
Source: AFP
