Zelenskyy Accuses US of Delaying Missile Interceptors as Trump Seeks New Ukraine Negotiator

Zelenskyy Accuses US of Delaying Missile Deliveries as Trump Calls for New Ukraine Negotiator

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday accused the United States of delaying the delivery of missile interceptors that European nations had already paid for, while US President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv should consider appointing a different representative to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.

Addressing US senators, Zelenskyy claimed that the missiles were ready for shipment but were awaiting approval from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“The missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the necessary authorisation had yet to be granted.

He also said several European countries were prepared to transfer Patriot missile interceptors from their existing stockpiles but needed Washington’s approval before proceeding.

TRUMP QUESTIONS ZELENSKYY’S ROLE IN PEACE TALKS

Trump renewed his criticism of the Ukrainian president, suggesting that Kyiv might need a new representative to negotiate with Moscow.

“Maybe it’s time for Zelenskyy to get somebody else to negotiate,” Trump told reporters on Monday.

The US president also questioned Zelenskyy’s understanding of the situation while defending a diesel supply agreement involving Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump described Russia as having been “fine” and said it had not been doing much.

The comments come amid tensions between Washington and Kyiv over military assistance, intelligence cooperation and the US administration’s engagement with Moscow.

UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIAN STRIKES CAME WITHOUT WARNING

Zelenskyy also criticised Ukraine’s partners for failing to provide advance warning before Russia launched its latest missile attacks. The strikes reportedly targeted energy facilities and other infrastructure, leaving more than 500,000 people without electricity.

“Once again, there was no early warning from our partners,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian authorities reported that six people, including three children, were killed in a strike near Kharkiv. Emergency crews were working to repair damaged infrastructure and restore electricity supplies.

The attacks have added to concerns over the security of Ukraine’s energy network and the country’s ability to protect critical infrastructure as the war continues.

WASHINGTON DENIES HALTING INTELLIGENCE SHARING

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims that Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. Trump also maintained that the United States continued to provide intelligence to Ukraine.

The statements came amid uncertainty over the future of American military and intelligence support, with Kyiv continuing to seek additional air-defence capabilities to counter Russian attacks.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga warned that a possible meeting involving Trump, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping could encourage further Russian aggression.

Sybiga argued that such a diplomatic encounter risked reinforcing Putin’s willingness to continue the war rather than advancing efforts to end the conflict.

The latest exchanges highlight the growing strain in US-Ukraine relations, as Kyiv seeks faster military assistance while Washington presses for progress towards a negotiated settlement with Russia.