Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused US President Donald Trump of trying to pressure Ukraine into capitulating to Russia, declaring in a Bloomberg interview published on Sunday: "I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate." The charge, aimed squarely at Ukraine's most important ally, caps a week-long rupture between Kyiv and Washington — and goes further than the "historic mistake" warning Zelenskyy gave NBC's Meet the Press earlier the same day, covered here.
Zelenskyy's "capitulate" accusation
Speaking from his Kyiv office, Zelenskyy stopped short of calling surrender Washington's goal — then said it out loud anyway.
"I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate," he told Bloomberg, according to USA Today and The Times. "I am not saying that this is the goal our partners are pursuing. I don't want to think that our American partners believe the war against Russia could be ended sooner at Ukraine's expense. But that's how it looks."
He pointed to a string of American moves: slowed Starlink satellite services, delayed Patriot interceptor deliveries, and Trump's waiver of Russia sanctions tied to a diesel deal with Vladimir Putin. He also floated a trade-off — Ukraine would stop targeting Russian diesel refineries if Washington accelerates Patriot deliveries — and warned of "dangerous days" ahead of the US congressional elections on November 3.
Trump hits back: "He doesn't want to end this war"
Trump answered on Truth Social the same day, defending the sanctions waiver and accusing Zelenskyy of being an obstacle to peace.
"My decision on Russia is a very simple one," Trump wrote. "I am in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don't want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table."
"Zelenskyy is using Diesel Refineries in Russia as a target, knowing that these attacks are seriously hurting the world diesel markets, including those in the United States," he added. "He doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did."
In recent days, Trump struck a deal with Putin to lift sanctions on diesel imports and held off Russia sanctions that were due to take effect — undermining legislation Congress passed last month with bipartisan support, USA Today reported.
Republicans break ranks over the sanctions waiver
Trump's Russia policy is now drawing open fire from his own party. Several Republican lawmakers have demanded the White House implement the sanctions legislation Congress passed last month.
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas slammed the waiver in an October 17 statement, warning Putin would respond to Trump's concessions "with contempt for the United States and increased violence against innocent Ukrainians." He urged the president to "reverse course, use these sanctions, and return to the time-tested principle that lasting peace is secured through strength — not accommodation."
Senator Darline Graham — sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, after whom the sanctions act was named — said at a campaign stop on Saturday: "I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia. I don't trust Putin and I don't trust Russia."
Starlink, intelligence sharing, and the refinery offer
The Times reported that Starlink — Elon Musk's SpaceX system, restricted in Ukraine last week — forced Ukrainian drone units to cancel missions. Zelenskyy said he believed the US government was behind the slowdown; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC no one in the administration did it, calling the charge "very reckless."
Intelligence sharing, which Zelenskyy had earlier called "blocked," has resumed. "It was blocked for some period of time," he said. "Then it was deblocked by the American side. We are very thankful. Now it works."
On Patriots, the gap is stark. Zelenskyy told Bloomberg the US now supplies just 12 interceptor missiles a month — roughly a quarter of the shipments made under the Biden administration — and that weapons Ukraine has already paid for are delayed for reasons that are "not a technical issue." Hence his offer: stop striking Russian refineries in exchange for accelerated deliveries.
Why it matters
A wartime president has publicly accused the United States of engineering his country's surrender, and an American president has publicly accused that leader of not wanting peace. Each statement narrows the other's room to maneuver — and every month of reduced Patriot supply is a month Russian ballistic missiles face thinner defenses.
What happens next
Watch the missiles, not the words. Whether Patriot deliveries accelerate — or Zelenskyy carries out his refinery-for-Patriots offer — will say more than the next Truth Social post. The Times reported, citing the Wall Street Journal, that Putin suggested during an October 9 phone call that he, Trump and China's Xi Jinping meet next month — possibly on APEC's sidelines in China — to negotiate an end to the war, a format that would freeze Ukraine out. The Kremlin said there is no firm plan; a US official said Trump has not agreed but is open to it.
Key Takeaways
- Zelenskyy told Bloomberg on Oct. 18 he believes "steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate" — a sharper charge than his earlier NBC "historic mistake" warning.
- Trump defended waiving Russia sanctions tied to a diesel deal with Putin, saying he is "in the process of negotiating peace": "He doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did."
- Republican lawmakers broke ranks: Rep. McCaul slammed the waiver and Sen. Darline Graham said she would "keep the pressure on Russia."
- Zelenskyy offered to stop striking Russian refineries if the US accelerates Patriot deliveries, now down to 12 interceptors a month.
- Starlink speeds were restricted last week and US intelligence sharing was temporarily blocked; sharing has since resumed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did Zelenskyy say about capitulating?
"I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate," Zelenskyy told Bloomberg in an interview published Oct. 18. He added he wasn't claiming that was Washington's goal, and didn't want to think US partners believed the war "could be ended sooner at Ukraine's expense" — but "that's how it looks."
Why did Trump ease sanctions on Russia?
Trump said he is "in the process of negotiating peace" and doesn't want to "drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table." He struck a diesel-import deal with Putin last week and held off Russia sanctions that were due to take effect — moves his Republican critics say undermine Congress's sanctions legislation.
Why are Republicans angry with Trump over Russia?
Several GOP lawmakers say easing pressure rewards Putin while Russia escalates in Ukraine. Rep. Michael McCaul warned concessions would be met with "contempt for the United States and increased violence against innocent Ukrainians," urging "peace through strength — not accommodation."
What is the refinery-for-Patriots offer?
Zelenskyy proposed Ukraine stop attacking Russian diesel refineries if Washington accelerates Patriot air-defense deliveries. He told Bloomberg the US now supplies just 12 interceptor missiles a month and that paid-for weapons are delayed for reasons that are "not a technical issue."
Was Starlink really slowed for Ukraine?
Zelenskyy says he believes the US government was behind the slowdown of Starlink speeds for Ukrainian forces last week, which forced drone units to cancel missions. The Trump administration denies it — Treasury Secretary Bessent called the charge "very reckless" and said no restriction happened.
What happens before the US midterms?
Zelenskyy warned of "dangerous days" ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, suggesting the pressure on Ukraine may ease afterward when US politics calm down. Watch Patriot deliveries, the reported APEC trilateral proposal, and next week's diplomacy for the next signals.
Sources
- USA Today, "Trump defends easing sanctions on Russia amid rising anger in Congress," Oct. 18, 2026 — usatoday.com
- The Times, "Trump claims to be 'negotiating peace' as rift with Zelensky deepens," Oct. 18, 2026 — thetimes.com
- Reuters via AnewZ live updates, "Trump gives 60 days to review Russia sanctions waiver," Oct. 18, 2026 — anewz.tv
- Bloomberg Markets interview (Oct. 18, 2026) via Scoop aggregated coverage — scoopfeeds.com
Related on GlobalDeskNews: Zelensky Warns Trump: Siding With Russia a 'Historic Mistake' (NBC interview, earlier Sunday) · Russia and Ukraine Trade Deadly Overnight Drone Strikes · Ukrainian Drones Strike St. Petersburg Oil Terminal · Why Trump Waived Russia Sanctions
By GlobalDeskNews Staff