Trump cuts Ukraine intel access, Zelensky reports

The question of American intelligence sharing with Ukraine has become the center of renewed tension between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that his country was attacked without the advance warning it has been accustomed to receiving from its partners, while US President Donald Trump insists that intelligence sharing continues as usual.

The gap between the two statements is especially stark given what was said at the White House: Trump was asked Tuesday evening whether the US is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and answered yes. His spokeswoman, however, said she would look into the matter and get back with an answer.

According to a Reuters report, Trump said Tuesday that the US continues to assist Ukraine and share intelligence with it. At the same time, Zelensky reported that Russian ballistic missiles were fired at Kyiv, striking among other targets a thermal power station. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were killed when a high-rise residential building was hit.

Zelensky wrote that once again no advance warning was received from partners, and added that according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia is preparing additional ballistic missile launches.

Why the absence of warning could be dramatic

American intelligence is not only a tool for planning military operations. It also serves Ukraine in identifying threats and providing early warning of missile attacks. According to missile expert Fabian Hoffmann of the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, European countries' ability to replace American information on missile launches is extremely limited.

One of the key components is an American satellite-based system capable of detecting heat signatures from missile launches. Hoffmann emphasized that this is a capability no other country can provide at the same level. Therefore, if Ukraine does not receive critical information about launches in time, it may struggle to prepare for strikes on its population and infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump (Photo: The White House)

That said, there is still no proof that the US has stopped passing intelligence. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha claimed that Kyiv is still receiving American military intelligence, and assessed that the delay in warning may be related to the type of weapon Russia used. Zelensky also said his generals received information indicating that intelligence sharing continues, though they were warned it could be cut off.

The events are unfolding against the backdrop of Trump's announcement over the weekend of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Neither side has confirmed that the understanding has taken effect, and Ukraine claims Russia attacked six Ukrainian energy facilities on Monday.

At the same time, Trump is pressuring Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries, after easing sanctions on Russian diesel exports. According to him, the move is intended to help lower fuel prices in the US ahead of midterm congressional elections next month.

Zelensky rejected the claim that easing sanctions would help lower prices in the US, saying the volume of fuel in question is insufficient for that purpose but could provide Russia with additional revenue to finance the war. According to him, Ukraine has not attacked Russian refineries since Trump's announcement.

According to the report, American representatives including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented the diesel export arrangement in talks with the Ukrainian delegation as part of an attempt to bring Russia back to the negotiating table.

Zelensky announced that Ukraine is ready for additional meetings with US representatives, on condition that Russia respects the ceasefire. At this stage, the question of whether Washington continues to pass Kyiv all the information it needs remains especially sensitive: even without a formal decision to stop intelligence sharing, any delay in warning could affect Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian attacks.