Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Kyiv continues to count on its partnership with the United States, even as he acknowledged feeling betrayed by US President Donald Trump over a recent energy deal with Russia and an announced “energy ceasefire.”
Speaking in London after meeting King Charles III and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Zelensky also urged the restoration of the Starlink satellite system used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield, which Kyiv says has been slowed.
“We count on (our) partnership with the United States,” Zelensky told Burnham in remarks before a closed-door meeting. “We just want to be very honest, very clear, be strong partners.”
In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Zelensky said Ukraine was losing US support. “That’s why it’s painful when President Trump chooses one side … not our side,” he said. “I think his advisors are wrong … this is not (the) right side of history.”
Asked whether he felt betrayed by Trump, Zelensky replied: “Really, yes.”
Ukraine has accused the United States of failing to provide timely warnings of incoming Russian missile strikes and of limiting the performance of Starlink terminals critical for military operations, including interceptor drones.
When asked about his message to SpaceX owner Elon Musk regarding the system, Zelensky said: “Of course people will die.” He added that the decision was “a big mistake” that “will bring a lot of human losses.”
“I hope that it’s a mistake, maybe huge technical problem. I don’t know, but we are asking to do it, to switch (it) on,” he said.
Burnham offered strong support, saying Britain would accelerate delivery of lightweight multi-role missiles and pursue further sanctions on Russia. “We are behind you and that will not change,” the British leader said, while pledging to help “repair bridges” between Trump and Zelensky.
