US Intelligence Sharing Restored After Brief Blackout, Zelensky Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that US intelligence sharing, crucial for detecting Russian ballistic missile attacks, had been temporarily halted but has since resumed.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the United States has resumed intelligence sharing with Ukraine after a temporary halt left the Ukrainian military unable to detect incoming Russian ballistic missile attacks. The blackout, which lasted approximately three days, significantly hampered Ukraine's defensive capabilities.
"It was blocked for some period of time. And then it was de-blocked by the American side. We are very thankful for this. Now it works," Zelensky stated in a prerecorded interview with NBC News' “Meet the Press,” aired Sunday. He elaborated that during the period of disrupted intelligence flow, Ukraine did not receive warnings about Russian attacks utilizing ballistic missiles.
"We have dozens of countries who help. But only United States has this unique intelligence to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles. And we didn’t get it during ballistic attacks during three days," Zelensky explained.
Ukraine has faced challenges in countering Russian ballistic missiles, exacerbated by a reported recent shortage of Patriot interceptors. The disruption in intelligence sharing occurred amid tensions between Kyiv and Washington regarding Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. President Trump had previously linked these attacks to rising diesel prices.
Last week, Trump announced an energy ceasefire in Ukraine, a move that reportedly surprised Kyiv. Ukraine stated it observed the ceasefire for several days, but resumed attacks on Russian energy sites after Russia continued its own bombardments. Trump criticized these actions, suggesting they contributed to higher global oil prices and that Ukraine had alternative targets available.
In addition to the intelligence sharing issue, Ukraine also reported limitations in its access to a military version of the Starlink satellite internet system, which affected its ability to intercept drones and conduct offensive drone operations. Conflicting accounts exist regarding who ordered the throttling of Starlink access and whether it has been fully restored.
When questioned about Trump's perceived differing sentiments toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and himself, Zelensky suggested his own directness might be a factor. "I’m very honest with the President of the United States, and very clear, and very supportive of America because we are strategic partners," Zelensky said. "He’s [Putin] a killer."