US-Ukraine relations worsened sharply in the week of October 19, 2026. President Trump said, “I think it’s time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” according to RFE/RL. The Daily Beast, citing the New York Times, reported that Trump lashed out after Zelensky said siding with Putin would be a “historic mistake.”
Energy. After Trump declared an “energy ceasefire” on October 11, Zelensky said Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy sector 76 times in the following week. On October 17–18 Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia, starting fires at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot and hitting an Ozon logistics hub. One person was killed, and injuries were reported as five or 15. Reuters reported Washington has waived some sanctions on Russia, which Trump says is to lower US fuel prices.
Starlink and intelligence. The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered speed limits on Ukraine’s Starlink and Starshield terminals on October 14. Musk said the Starshield limits were set by the US military and ultimately the president. Trump says he didn’t make the call, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move wasn’t deliberate and that no one at the White House ordered it. Ukraine’s defence minister later said full use had been restored. Kyiv also said it hadn’t received its usual early-warning data on Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Talks. US envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo on October 20. See our Ukraine–Russia timeline.
Sources: RFE/RL, Daily Beast, Africanews, Il Foglio on WSJ, Reuters via Internazionale.
