Zelensky speaks to Witkoff and Kushner amid U.S.-Ukraine crisis
Source: www.axios.com ·
Section: politics ·
Bias: Center-Right
· Published: Sun, 18 Oct 2026 20:51:10 GMT
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke Sunday with President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about the crisis between the countries and U.S. efforts to resume peace talks with Russia.Why it matters: It was the first call between Zelensky and senior U.S. officials since tensions spiked between their countries after Trump cut a diesel deal with Russia 10 days ago. During the call that lasted around 40 minutes, Zelensky discussed with Trump's envoy the possibility of holding an in-person meeting in the coming days. The latest: Trump defended his decision to grant a waiver related to sanctions pushed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), saying he didn't want to jeopardize negotiations with Russia."I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don't want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table," Trump wrote on Truth Social.Trump also accused Zelensky of targeting Russian diesel refineries and not wanting to end the war.Driving the news: The call took place amid assertions by Zelensky that the Trump administration was behind restrictions imposed on the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems used by the Ukrainian military. "Who made this decision? I don't know. I think that this is really both [White House and SpaceX] decision. If President Trump will decide tomorrow, or better today, if he will personally decide to lift this decision, it will immediately work as it was before," Zelensky said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday.He added, "The message came from [the U.S.] government. I don't know from whom. It's the opinion of our generals, of our government, and of course also my opinion, that it was a message from the American government to limit the speed. And technically, SpaceX did it."Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the U.S. government was not involved in the Starlink restrictions and said it has been restored. Ukrainian officials dispute that. Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from President Trump.
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