Zelenskyy responds to Trump criticism: ‘I can’t applaud’ decisions that hurt Ukraine

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy used a Meet the Press sit-down, recorded for NBC News, to answer President Donald Trump's remark that dealing with Zelenskyy is harder than dealing with Vladimir Putin. The exchange, dated October 18, 2026, shows the two governments at odds over sanctions and satellite internet service. Zelenskyy said he cannot applaud choices that damage Ukraine.

On Starshield, the military-oriented satellite service, Zelenskyy said the restricted speeds Ukraine experiences amount to a message sent by the American government. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disputed that, calling Zelenskyy reckless for blaming the U.S. government for the Starlink slowdown. Bessent also maintained that nobody has pressed Russia harder on sanctions than Trump has.

Zelenskyy countered that sanctions waivers granted to Russia are strengthening Putin's war effort against his country. He also warned that Ukraine would not prevail if Washington took Russia's side. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma offered a middle view, saying Trump is backing Ukraine even when the two sides disagree and is balancing carefully on a Russian oil arrangement.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →