The war of words between President Trump and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy reached a new climax on Monday. Trump once again lashed out at Ukraine’s embattled leader, putting more pressure on Zelensky than on the man in Moscow who started this war, Vladimir Putin. The president’s comments come after the United States limited a key technology that Ukraine relies on. Nick Schifrin reports.
Geoff Bennett:
The war of words between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensified further today, with Mr. Trump sharply criticizing the Ukrainian leader and putting more pressure on him than on Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who started the war. Zelensky is due to meet with US negotiators this week.
But the latest tensions come as Washington has restricted Ukraine’s access to critical technologies it relies on in its fight against Russia.
Nick Schifrin starts our coverage.
Nick Schifrin:
In the broken windows and debris of downtown kyiv, the impact of what Ukraine claims is a blockage of U.S. support. Today, Russian drones and missiles struck the capital without warning, leaving walls lacerated by shrapnel, destroying residences, a shopping center and a school, in Russia’s bid to make kyiv unlivable.
MAKSYM MAKSYMOVYCH, Kyiv, Ukraine, resident (via translator):
It’s one thing to watch this happen elsewhere, in other places or in other cities, but now it’s getting closer and closer. It’s a little scary.
Nick Schifrin:
The tension is between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who today suggested the United States end the intelligence that has been feeding Ukraine’s air warning system for years.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President:
Only the United States has this unique intelligence to inform us when Russia uses ballistic missiles.
Nick Schifrin:
What Zelensky didn’t say is that the US warning system is not perfect and can miss some Russian missile launches, particularly in bad weather.
But Ukraine has to physically slow down and loses connection with its drone interceptors and mid- and long-range drones due to speed limitations imposed by the US SpaceX system. This threatens Ukraine’s ability to wage war against Russia and defend itself.
On Sunday’s “Meet the Press” show, Zelenskyy said information sharing was intermittent.
Kristen Welker, moderator, “Meet the Press”: Is this correct? Has the US cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine?
Volodymyr Zelensky:
It was blocked for a while. And then it was unblocked on the American side. We are very grateful for this. Now it works.
Nick Schifrin:
Today in Uzbekistan, Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the United States ever limited intelligence.
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State: I don’t know where he gets these things from or why he says these things to the press. You should go back and ask him. There was no break. The United States – but, again, what he should focus on and what we want to focus on is ending this war.
President Donald Trump:
We have given a lot to Ukraine. They didn’t give us anything.
Nick Schifrin:
This afternoon, President Trump accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war.
Donald Trump:
Zelensky doesn’t help much. I think he doesn’t want to stop it. I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.
Nick Schifrin:
And President Trump said he might meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss arms control, but said this about the possibility of the three discussing Ukraine:
Donald Trump:
I would, but not so much for Ukraine. Because Russia, frankly, has done well with Ukraine.
Nick Schifrin:
This is not how Ukraine sees it, a war started by Russia with enormous losses, including a baby in Kharkiv today, progress at enormous human cost, and now its main supporter is limiting its support.
For the PBS News Hour, I’m Nick Schifrin.
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