"Hey, big man, you're playing politics": What do Trump-Putin diesel deal, Starlink curbs mean for Zelensky's Ukraine?

For Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s Ukraine, the lifting of US sanctions on Russian oil and the sudden restrictions on Starlink raised new concerns about Washington’s support for Kyiv. As Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the development threatens to undermine drone operations, disrupt missile warnings and increase pressure on Zelensky to negotiate with Moscow.

Russia attacks power plants in Kiev as Ukraine faces new threats

Russia struck three power plants supplying Kiev overnight, apparently in an attempt to cut heating and electricity as temperatures plunge. Zelenskyy said Ukraine received no warning of incoming Russian ballistic missiles from its Western allies for the second night in a row, so authorities were not alerted to the raid.

Read also | Zelensky urges Musk to “turn on” Starlink as Ukraine reports “trouble” to US

Russia also struck two bridges in Kiev, gas stations, buildings in the city center and warehouses outside the capital. The death toll is rising as Russia’s faster jet-powered drones increasingly challenge Ukraine’s stretched air defenses.

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Ukraine has said the Starlink link can shut down or become unstable when the drones exceed a certain speed, with a reported top speed of 160 km/h. The limitations could make some interceptor and strike missions more difficult.

Ukrainian forces use Starlink for battlefield communications, intelligence gathering, drone operations and logistics. Its satellite links are particularly useful where conventional communications are unreliable or intermittent.

Ukrainian officials reported communication breakdowns and said some missions were interrupted or canceled. They also said the restrictions complicate drone operations and military logistics.

This has not been definitively proven. Ukrainian officials suspected a link to pressure on Kiev to stop attacks on refineries, but the reason for the restrictions was not immediately clear.

The oil deal has raised tensions between Washington and Kiev, while the reported absence of missile warnings has added to uncertainty over intelligence sharing. U.S. officials attributed the gap in the warning to a technical glitch and said intelligence sharing had not been suspended.

Any disruption of intelligence or communications could further weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities.

Starlink restrictions threaten Ukraine’s drone fight

The Ukrainian military relies on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite an internet service for operating reconnaissance and fighter drones, gathering intelligence and conducting long-range strikes against Russian targets.

Ukrainian officials said SpaceX imposed restrictions on Tuesday night that caused the connection to be shut down when the drones exceeded speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and in some cases 50 mph (80 km/h). Service was partially restored on Wednesday, but Ukraine’s defense ministry said the 160km/h cap remained in place.

This limit could prevent some Ukrainian fighter drones from intercepting Russian jets.

Read also | Trump calls on Ukraine to stop targeting Russian refineries – and replace Zelensky

“The situation is better than this morning, but 160 km/h is not enough to catch,” a Ukrainian official said.

The ministry said it remains in contact with partners and SpaceX to ensure stable services and avoid sudden restrictions. Kyiv is looking for answers as to why the curbs were imposed. A senior US official said the Trump administration was not responsible.

Trump-Putin oil deal deepens tensions between Washington and Kyiv

The Starlink restrictions came days after US President Donald Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian oil sales, sparking another row with Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president criticized the move, after which Trump called on Ukraine to elect a new president.

Read also | Ukraine claims SpaceX’s Starlink restrictions hit military drone strikes against Russia

Ukrainian officials believe the Starlink curbs may have been intended to get Kiev to accept Trump’s demand that it stop attacking Russian oil refineries. However, no convincing evidence links the restriction to this demand.

The development has fueled fears that Washington could use its influence over Ukraine’s military capabilities to push Zelensky to settle with Russia on disadvantageous terms.

Missing warnings against US missiles raise concerns about intelligence sharing

The Starlink disruption followed reports that Ukraine had received no early warning of a Russian ballistic missile attack. Ukrainian officials said the US had provided such warnings for years as part of intelligence sharing between the two countries.

US officials attributed the gap to a technical fault, while some Ukrainian officials suspected political pressure from the Trump administration.

Trump said on Tuesday that intelligence sharing had not been suspended. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made a similar statement on Wednesday.

Read also | Russia-Ukraine War: Trump Declares ‘Energy Ceasefire’; Kyiv reacts

Serhii Beskrestnov, Zelensky’s military technology adviser, cautioned against jumping to conclusions, noting that Russian S-400 missile launches had previously gone undetected.

However, the lack of warning for two consecutive days raised concerns, especially as the second incident coincided with Starlink restrictions.

Trump’s March 2025 news hiatus offers a warning

Ukraine has already experienced a similar crisis. In March 2025, Trump temporarily halted intelligence sharing after his contentious Oval Office meeting with Zelensky.

The suspension deprived Ukraine of valuable information about Russian positions and movements. Ukrainian forces subsequently lost a significant portion of the territory they had occupied in Russia’s Kursk region before intelligence sharing resumed.

A confirmed suspension would now represent another serious setback for Kyiv, which faces mounting pressure on the battlefield and deteriorating conditions at home.

Zelenskyy appeals for US partnership, while Europe questions Musk

In a meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London, Zelenskiy acknowledged the difficulties Ukraine was facing.

“We’ve had massive (Russian) attacks today and it’s a shame we’ve also had difficulties … with Starlink and intelligence and a lot of different surprises,” he said.

Read also | Zelenskyy faces a shortage of front-line troops after 4 years of the Ukrainian-Russian war

“We are looking forward to a partnership with the US, but we want to be very honest and very clear and be a strong partner,” he added.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also called out Elon Musk over the restrictions. “Hey big man, playing politics with your products again? We’re watching you as your European customers,” he wrote on X.

What the Trump-Putin deal on diesel and Starlink curbs mean for Ukraine

The consequences for Kyiv will be shaped by three events: whether SpaceX removes the remaining speed limits, whether Ukraine continues to issue missile warnings, and whether Washington increases pressure over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Until these issues are resolved, Ukraine will face a tougher air defense campaign and greater uncertainty about the American support it has relied on during the war.