Zelensky accuses US of delaying missile deliveries as Kyiv-Washington tensions rise

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday accused the US Department of Defense, known as the Pentagon, of delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles to Ukraine, speaking to American senators. He said the missiles had already been paid for by European countries and that the shipment was waiting for the signature of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The claim comes as relations between Kyiv and Washington grow more strained while Russia's war against Ukraine continues.

Waiting for US approval

Zelensky said several European countries were ready to hand over Patriot interceptor missiles from their own stockpiles but were still waiting for US consent. "The missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine," he said. "But unfortunately, there is still no approval."

Kyiv said it again received no early warning of powerful Russian missile strikes, as it also claimed the previous week. The United States denies changing its intelligence sharing with Ukraine. US President Donald Trump also denied ordering a reduction in speeds on the Starshield network, which is controlled by the US government and was developed by Elon Musk's company SpaceX. Musk had said the order could only have come from the White House.

Strained relations

Ties worsened after Trump partially lifted sanctions to strike a diesel-supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and called Zelensky a warmonger over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. On Monday Trump defended the deal and said: "Zelensky doesn't know what he's talking about," adding that it was time for somebody else to negotiate on Ukraine's behalf.

Trump also said he was ready to meet Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss denuclearisation, and that the talks could also touch on the Ukraine war. That feeds fears in Kyiv of being sidelined. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the idea of such a meeting had been mentioned. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said it would only encourage Putin to continue the war.

Zelensky also spoke on Monday with Pope Leo XIV, who recently held a similar call with Putin. According to the Vatican, the Pope urged both sides to allow aid into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky and let civilians leave.

New strikes

Russia's latest strikes again hit Ukrainian energy facilities and infrastructure, cutting power to more than 500,000 people. Authorities said six people, including three children, were killed near Kharkiv. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Uzbekistan, denied that intelligence sharing had been withdrawn and backed Trump's call for Zelensky to focus on ending the war. Talks are deadlocked: Russia refuses to give up its claim to Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine refuses to do so.