Zelensky accuses US of pressuring Ukraine over Patriot missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Washington of putting pressure on Kyiv in an interview with Bloomberg: he said the US is deliberately slowing deliveries of Patriot missiles and the work of the Starshield system to convince Ukraine to capitulate. He also described a new proposal concerning Russian oil refineries.

Oil depots in exchange for Patriots

Zelensky said he had proposed a deal: Ukraine stops striking Russian oil depots and refineries, as Donald Trump has asked, and in return the US supplies missiles for Patriot systems so Kyiv can defend its infrastructure. “All they want is for us to stop hitting the oil depots. And if we do hit them, something gets switched off for us,” he said.

“I believe steps were taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate. I'm not saying that is the goal of our partners. I don't want to think that our American partners believe the war can be ended sooner at Ukraine's expense. But that is how it looks,” the president said.

Twelve missiles a month

According to Zelensky, Ukraine has paid for weapons, including interceptor missiles, but the US has approved only part of the deliveries. “And it is not a technical problem,” he stressed. Kyiv now receives just 12 Patriot missiles a month from the US, roughly a quarter of the pace under Joe Biden. Biden also supplied missiles free of charge as part of military aid, whereas under the Trump administration Kyiv pays for them.

Zelensky believes the American president has a good relationship with Putin, but something is not working: “Right now Trump cannot make Putin end the war.”

“It will be calmer after the election”

Relations between Ukraine and the US may improve after the congressional elections on November 3. “Dangerous days lie ahead of us before the election. During an election period politics is very aggressive. It is torment now, but after the election life will go on, and I believe it will be calmer,” Zelensky said.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz