Zelenskyy accuses US of holding up missiles as Trump eyes summit without Ukraine
Zelenskyy says the Pentagon is delaying delivery of European-funded interceptor missiles, while Trump proposes a summit that would exclude Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged on Monday that the Pentagon is deliberately postponing the transfer of interceptor missiles already purchased by European allies, pending a signature from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. He added that several European countries are prepared to move Patriot missiles from their own inventories, but are waiting for US clearance. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump promoted the idea of a summit in China with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping that would not include Zelenskyy, further straining US-Ukraine relations.
Trump also defended a diesel-fuel deal with Russia and criticized Zelenskyy as a warmonger. The United States refuted claims of altered intelligence-sharing, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the hypothetical meeting had indeed been mentioned. Concurrently, fresh Russian missile attacks knocked out power for more than 500,000 Ukrainians and killed six people, including three children, highlighting Kyiv’s concerns over early-warning failures.
Why it matters
The dispute over missile deliveries and diplomatic sidelining could affect Ukraine's defense and the broader US-Russia-China geopolitical balance.
How this story developed
- Oct 5 Russia’s intensified winter attacks threaten Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and morale
- Oct 17 US officials indicated they may limit intelligence data to Ukrainian forces.
- Oct 18 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration will study the impact of the suspension on the global economy.
- Oct 18 Volodymyr Zelenskyj said that US authorities had ordered a brief suspension of Starlink for Ukraine’s military, which has since been lifted.
- Oct 18 Zelensky warned that any formal U.S. alignment with Vladimir Putin would be a historic mistake.
- Oct 18 Ukraine struck a refinery in Saint Petersburg, prompting renewed U.S. criticism of Kyiv’s energy attacks.
- Oct 18 Trump offered extra Patriot missiles if Ukraine ceases refinery attacks.
- Oct 18 Zelensky said he had a call with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner amid the new crisis between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump, who recently exempted Russia from new sanctions.
- Oct 19 The United States continues to review the feasibility of a trilateral summit with Putin and Trump.
- Oct 19 Trump signed an executive order pausing broad sanctions on Russia, including a temporary diesel waiver.
- Oct 19 Trump suspended a sanctions package on Russia, lifted a restriction on Russian diesel exports, and blamed Zelenskyy for prolonging the war.
- Oct 19 Trump imposed a speed limitation on Starshield and announced a three‑month diesel sanctions waiver.
- Oct 20 Trump signed a waiver temporarily lifting most sanctions on Russia.
- Oct 20 Patriot missile shipment remains pending a Defense Secretary signature.
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