During a meeting with Zelenskyy in Brussels on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said they had discussed the importance of implementing an energy ceasefire and maintaining the alliance’s support for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy did not mention a ceasefire in his social media post about the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin accused Kyiv of undermining US-led peace efforts by continuing attacks on Russian oil facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine was still striking such targets, after Russian authorities reported a drone attack that caused a fire at an oil refinery south of Moscow.
Peskov argued that the attacks conflicted with Washington’s efforts to launch a peace process.
In Kyiv, some residents expressed concern about what they viewed as a shift in Washington’s position. One resident told AFP that experiencing Ukraine’s nighttime attacks, power cuts and electricity shortages firsthand might change Trump’s perspective.
Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukraine and its capital in recent months, causing civilian casualties and disrupting daily life. Moscow currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Dispute Over Satellite Communications
The latest tensions have also focused on Starshield, a satellite communications system used by Ukraine’s military to coordinate operations and respond to Russian attacks.
Ukrainian officials reported slower connectivity on Wednesday, raising concerns about the system’s reliability. However, Elon Musk said SpaceX was not responsible for the reported disruption.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” Musk said, adding that any restrictions on speed or usage were determined by the US military and ultimately the president.
Ukraine relies on Starshield for battlefield communications, operations against Russian-occupied territory and the use of interceptor drones. The system is distinct from Starlink, the civilian satellite network also used in Ukraine.
The dispute over refinery strikes and satellite communications adds to the uncertainty surrounding US support for Kyiv as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue.
