Zelensky pressures senators to press White House on alleged intelligence and weapons restrictions

• Trump and White House officials have denied for days that they imposed restrictions on Ukraine.

Driving the news: The crisis began 10 days ago when Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia during a series of negotiations between his envoys and Ukrainian officials in Miami.

• The Ukrainians claimed that Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner threatened that Trump could cut Ukraine off from U.S. intelligence services and stop arms sales if he continued to ignore demands not to target Russian oil refineries.
• U.S. officials have denied such a threat. They said Witkoff and Kushner told the Ukrainians the United States was a strong partner, providing munitions and intelligence. Ukraine should therefore not take actions that harm U.S. consumers, Witkoff and Kushner said.​

Behind the scenes: In a virtual meeting with a bipartisan group of senators led by Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Zelensky laid out the various problems facing Ukraine since the Miami meeting. Axios obtained a transcript from Ukrainian authorities.

• Elon Musk’s Starlink and the US military’s Starshield satellite systems remain partially restricted – despite claims to the contrary from the White House. “We still have no explanation for this. We unfortunately hear different strange stories,” Zelensky told senators. This hampers Ukraine’s ability to shoot down Russian attack drones, he added.
• On three occasions last week, including Sunday, Ukraine did not receive early warnings from the United States about Russian ballistic missile attacks, Zelensky said, suggesting that was a sign that intelligence sharing had been limited. “We have received no clear explanation from Washington as to why this is happening,” he added.
• Zelensky said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth does not approve the delivery of Patriot interceptors and AIM-9x missiles for the NASAMS air defense system, even though NATO countries have already paid for them. “We have almost no Patriot interceptors left from our American partners,” he said.
• “All this suggests that a political decision was made to slow down the support we receive,” Zelensky said. “We want to understand what’s happening, why it’s happening and where it’s all leading.”

What they say: Tillis said after the meeting that Congress “remains committed to standing with Ukraine and our European allies to end Russia’s brutal aggression and ensure lasting peace.”

• Blumenthal said afterward that “bipartisan support for Ukraine was clear and unequivocal, and we will express it in future actions.”
• “Appeasement will not work with Putin, a thug who only understands might and might,” he added.

The other side: President Trump told reporters Monday that the United States was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and said he did not know who ordered the limitation of the Starlink satellite system. “But I’m going to find out,” he said.

• “Frankly, Zelensky doesn’t help much. He doesn’t want to stop the war. Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” the president said. “Maybe it’s time for Zelensky to let someone else negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. … We gave Ukraine a lot. They gave us nothing.”

State of play: Zelensky spoke with Witkoff and Kushner on Sunday.

• They again asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, Ukrainian officials said.
• Zelensky told senators that he proposed to U.S. envoys that Ukraine end strikes against refineries for 30 days. In exchange, the United States would provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptors so that it could defend against Russian ballistic missiles during this 30-day period.
• Zelensky told senators that Witkoff and Kushner had shown no openness to the idea.

What to watch: Zelensky told senators he would be in Oslo, Norway, next week and might meet with Witkoff and Kushner on Tuesday or Wednesday. Kushner and Witkoff could then continue their journey from Oslo to Moscow to meet Putin, a source close to the matter said.