The United States and Russia have agreed on a diesel trade collaboration. To ensure the smooth delivery of this energy shipment, Trump directly pressured Zelenskyy, urging Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure.
For Zelenskyy, this demand is difficult to accept. On the front lines, Ukraine holds no clear advantage. The use of long-range drones to strike energy facilities deep within Russian territory has become one of the few effective means by which Kyiv can exert tangible pressure on Moscow. Months of sustained strikes have already yielded results—certain regions in Russia are experiencing diesel shortages. Halting these operations would effectively disarm Ukraine’s most potent long-range retaliatory capability.
Trump, aware that Ukraine would not readily concede, swiftly deployed his leverage with a stark warning: if Kyiv refuses to comply, U.S. military aid will be cut off. The threat materialized quickly. On October 14, widespread restrictions were imposed on Starlink systems used by Ukrainian forces. Drones equipped with the system experienced temporary communication loss when flying faster than 120 kilometers per hour, and in severe cases, they lost contact entirely.
This restriction dealt a significant blow to Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities. Kyiv expressed strong dissatisfaction. Zelenskyy revealed privately that prior to the incident, U.S. officials had warned that continued strikes on Russian energy infrastructure would lead Washington to suspend intelligence support to Kyiv. Elon Musk corroborated this assertion on social media, stating that ultimate control over the Starlink system used by Ukraine resides with the U.S. government and military, and only Trump has the authority to issue such restrictions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879473585561600/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.