Relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky have soured again, with differences over Russia policy, military aid, and intelligence sharing raising concerns about Washington’s commitment to Kyiv.

A Tuesday, October 20, meeting in Oslo provided a potential opening for diplomacy. European leaders appeared ready to support efforts to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, and Zelensky met with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. The two men hugged each other before their talks, but the gesture came after days of increasingly public disagreements between Washington and Kyiv.

The row has escalated since Trump announced on October 9 a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to make Russian diesel available to US and global markets. Ukraine and some U.S. lawmakers criticised the move, which temporarily eased U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel.

Trump said the decision aimed to tackle rising fuel prices. His administration has also presented engagement with Moscow as part of its larger effort to end the war.

But for Kyiv, the deal raised fears that Washington may be willing to ease economic pressure on Russia even as Ukraine continues to face attacks on its cities and infrastructure.

Public Criticism Widening the Divide

Recently, Trump has been highly critical of Zelensky, questioning his approach to negotiations and urging Ukraine to find a different representative for peace talks.

On Oct. 19, Trump said Zelenskyy was not helping in the effort to end the conflict and urged Ukraine to find someone else to negotiate. The comments follow earlier criticism of Kyiv’s campaign of strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has said he is frustrated with decisions made by Washington, arguing that some U.S. policy choices are difficult to reconcile with the two countries’ relationship.

The split is representative of a broader divide in priorities. Trump has wanted to end the war, but Ukraine has insisted that any settlement must be consistent with safeguarding its sovereignty and include credible security guarantees.

This most recent showdown is not the first major disagreement between the two leaders. The relationship soured following a televised face-off at the White House in February 2025, which was followed by a temporary halt to US military aid and limits on intelligence sharing.

While collaboration eventually ramped up in other ways, the episode highlighted how quickly political spats could impact Ukraine’s access to critical American support.

Military assistance concerns

Western support remains critical for key elements of Ukraine’s defence, including air-defence systems and interceptor missiles that counter Russian ballistic missile strikes.

In particular, there is concern about the availability of US-made Patriot interceptors, against the background of competing international demands and reports of delays in their delivery. European countries have also remained involved in brokering US-supplied military hardware for Ukraine.

Any reduction or delay in these supplies could make Ukrainian cities more vulnerable to Russian missile strikes. But reliable and current sources should confirm the exact claims about how many Patriots are left in Ukraine and how much their deliveries have been restricted lately.

The row over Russian diesel has added to Kyiv’s worries. Ukrainian officials and critics of the deal say allowing Russian fuel into world markets could provide Moscow with a source of revenue and relieve pressure designed to limit its war effort.

Conversely, the Trump administration has asserted that engagement with Russia could foster an environment for new negotiations.

Starlink conflicts and intelligence sharing

Concerns over sharing intelligence have only complicated relations between Washington and Kyiv further.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had suffered from gaps in early warnings of Russian missile strikes. U.S. officials dismissed any deliberate pause, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio blaming a software glitch for a temporary disruption.

This is especially important because advance warning gives Ukrainian civilians time to take shelter and military authorities time to prepare air defences.

There have also been questions about Ukraine’s access to Starlink, the satellite internet system run by SpaceX. Ukrainian officials say connectivity problems are hampering military operations, including systems used to counter Russian drones.

Reports have suggested that restrictions on satellite connectivity may have hampered Ukraine’s capabilities, though the precise cause, extent and origin of any restrictions remain disputed.

Such concerns have only heightened Ukrainian fears about reliance on systems and support that remain subject to outside decisions.

Possible diplomatic breakthrough in Oslo

But the Oslo meetings of Oct. 20, though tense, provided an opportunity to work out some of the immediate differences.

Zelensky said Ukraine was again receiving early warnings of Russian missile attacks and said the system was working. He also discussed with Rubio the supply of Patriot missiles and access to Starlink. Some of the immediate operational concerns were being met; the developments were suggested to at least some.

Witkoff's expected trip to Russia for further talks with Putin kept the diplomatic wheels turning even as Trump and Zelensky engaged in a public spat.

But the meetings leave unresolved fundamental disagreements on how the war should end, what security guarantees Ukraine would get or how much support Washington is willing to give.

The question for Kyiv is how to negotiate without sacrificing its long-term security. It is about showing Washington that steps to achieve a settlement can deliver real progress without compromising the position of a country fighting for its survival against Russia’s invasion.

While communications improvements may make trust easier to build right away, it will really depend on what decisions are made about military aid, intelligence sharing and the details of any peace deal to come.