Volodymyr Zelensky said he feels “betrayed” by Donald Trump after the US president eased sanctions on Russian diesel.
In an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Wednesday night, the Ukrainian president responded to Trump’s deal with Moscow for diesel to curb domestic fuel prices, saying: “It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side”.
Asked if he felt betrayed by the events in recent days, including Trump’s claims an energy ceasefire had been agreed, Mr Zelenksy said: “Really, yes, between us.”
During the interview, Mr Zelensky also voiced concerns over restrictions on the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink services in Ukraine, saying the move “will bring a lot of human losses”.
Later, Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX, said that all speeds of the system were controlled by the US government and military. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
After talks with British prime minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday evening, Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram: "It is clear that the Russians are trying to take advantage of the problems with Starlink in Ukraine as the operation of interceptor drones largely depends on that connection."
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Key Points
- Zelensky: Ukraine feels 'betrayed' by US
- Trump controls Starshield systems, Musk claims
- Energy ceasefire is 'the worst version peace', Zelensky says
Chancellor calls for tighter Russian shipping sanctions
04:30 , Namita SinghChancellor John Healey called on other nations to tighten sanctions on Russia-linked shipping, as he prepared to meet his foreign counterparts at the International Monetary Fund's annual meetings in Bangkok on Thursday.
"My message to finance ministers here today ... on Ukraine, is to stay the path on tough economic sanctions on Russia, especially a tighter ban on shipping services ... that help (Russian president Vladimir) Putin's sanctions-busting shadow fleet to operate," he said.
Britain has imposed a series of sanctions on shipping and related services that it believes Russia uses to fund and equip its war on Ukraine.
However, a US official on Wednesday said the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on so-called shadow fleet vessels that have transported oil and petroleum products from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela, in an effort to reduce record-high global freight rates.
US 'floats unfreezing some Russian assets' to restart Ukraine peace talks
03:52 , Adam WithnallThe US has proposed that European countries unfreeze some Russian sovereign assets immobilised after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and transfer them to a vehicle overseen by Washington in an attempt to revive peace talks, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people briefed on the matter.
European delegates rebuffed the plan, which was pitched by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the report said.
US-Russia diesel deal can pave way for further economic cooperation, says Kremlin envoy
03:00 , Alex CroftThe US-Russia diesel deal can pave the way for further economic cooperation between the two countries, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Wednesday.
He added that Moscow would overcome any sanctions-related difficulties to ensure the diesel supplies.
The example of diesel cooperation with the US "will open other opportunities as well," he told reporters.
Read more about the US-Russia diesel deal here.
Watch: Zelensky tells Elon Musk 'people will die' over Starlink restrictions
02:00 , Bryony GoochPutin set to discuss cybersecurity challenges with top officials - Kremlin
01:00 , Alex CroftRussian President Vladimir Putin will discuss cybersecurity with top officials on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as an increasingly pressing issue.
He added that a number of countries were seeking to turn cyber technologies into weapons and Russia needed to be ready to face such challenges.
Trump ‘blindsided’ his own Ukraine peace envoys by agreeing diesel deal with Putin: report
Thursday 15 October 2026 00:01 , Alex CroftThe United States promised Ukraine extra post-war security guarantees just before Donald Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russia for diesel exports and upended the negotiations, according to reports.
Volodymyr Zelensky has been emphatic about the need for security assurances in any deal agreed with Vladimir Putin amid concerns that Moscow is already ignoring a supposed energy ceasefire announced by Trump earlier this week.
During six-hour talks in Miami last weekend, special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner suggested that the president was willing to strengthen protections for Ukraine as part of a revised peace plan, according to The Telegraph.
However, the discussions were frustrated after Trump agreed to allow Putin to export diesel to the US and globally amid rising fuel costs worldwide.
Trump ‘blindsided his own Ukraine peace envoys by agreeing deal with Putin’
White House officials deny control over Space X - report
Wednesday 14 October 2026 23:48 , Bryony GoochWhite House officials have reportedly denied any control over SpaceX amid a growing disagreement over restrictions placed on Starlink and Starshields in Ukraine.
Earlier Elon Musk claimed that Donald Trump controlled Starshields.
Now, Axios correspondent Barak Ravid has said: “White House officials told the Ukrainians they don't have control over SpaceX, the sources said. One of the sources said the Trump administration is going to reach out to SpaceX to figure out what happened.”
White House officials told the Ukrainians they don't have control over SpaceX, the sources said. One of the sources said the Trump administration is going to reach out to SpaceX to figure out what happened https://t.co/P5xe8scBiN
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 14, 2026
Ukraine attacks Russia's biggest data centre
Wednesday 14 October 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftUkraine has launched an attack on Russia's biggest data centre, owned by the country's largest bank and technology company, Sberbank, a senior company executive said on Wednesday.
"We confirm that the data processing centre was attacked. At the same time, all of Sberbank's systems and services are operating normally and without disruption," Sberbank First Deputy CEO Alexander Vedyakhin told reporters.
The strike in the Saratov region on the Volga River followed three attacks in the past week on data centres owned by Russian tech group Yandex. Ukraine says it is responding to Russian attacks on its own data sites.
Along with Yandex, its main domestic rival, Sberbank is Russia's leading developer of artificial intelligence. The domestic market is shared between Sberbank's GigaChat model and YandexGPT.
Watch: Meloni hits out at Trump over ‘very risky’ diesel deal with Putin
Wednesday 14 October 2026 22:00 , Alex CroftElections impossible to do as drones swarm the country and soldiers unable to vote from front line, says Zelensky
Wednesday 14 October 2026 21:16 , Bryony GoochUkraine’s president has said it’s impossible to do an election as a point of security with drones swarming the country.
Responding to comments by Donald Trump and Elon Musk that he should step down, Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Each hour we have attacks. This massive attack that we discussed, it was about night. But during the day, the same drones are here; hundreds and thousands each hour attack. So that's why, from a security, you can't do elections.
“Then soldiers are on the front. We can't choose the president without soldiers because they give and gave their lives. They are the first who have to vote, and I think it's fair.”
People were killed as Starlink has been down, Zelensky says
Wednesday 14 October 2026 21:09 , Bryony GoochVolodymyr Zelensky has said people were killed while Starlink has been down because they were unable to intercept drones.
“We use drones with Starlink,” he told Piers Morgan. “So it's not about just just attack, as as I said, we didn't didn't attack their energy. It's not about attack. It's also about defending the lives.”
Elon Musk said on X that Starlink usage was limited to civilian or defensive activities and could not be used for offensive military action.
Mr Zelensky added: “So people were killed because not enough destroying, not enough interceptors, including interceptors with Starlink, which didn't work, of course.”
Energy ceasefire is 'the worst version peace', Zelensky says
Wednesday 14 October 2026 21:03 , Bryony GoochVolodymyr Zelensky described the energy ceasefire as “the worst version of peace.”
He told Piers Morgan: “They wanted us not to attack diesel. My opinion was it's not fair. Energy ceasefire, it's okay, t's understandable. I mean, it's the worst version of peace. But anyway, it's some steps to the peace.”
He continued: “We support it because we need our people to live to go through this winter and to stop the war. This is what we want.”
Kyiv denies it hit Russian refineries
Wednesday 14 October 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftA Ukrainian presidential adviser denied on Wednesday Russian statements that Kyiv's military struck Russian refineries earlier in the day.
Dmytro Lytvyn told reporters that Ukraine struck a data centre and another unnamed target but not refineries.
Trump controls Starshield systems, Musk claims
Wednesday 14 October 2026 20:56 , Bryony GoochElon Musk responded to Ukraine’s former ministry of defence as Starlink and Starshield are down in the nation.
Mykhailo Fedorov said on X: “Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored. Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense. Thank you, @elonmusk. We hope for your continued support.”
Responding, Musk said that the Trump controls Starshield systems while Starlink was only for defensive activities, as he implied that it was being used for offensive action.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS. Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX.
“Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”
Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 14, 2026
Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities…
Russia says Ukraine hit two oil refineries on Wednesday
Wednesday 14 October 2026 20:01 , Alex CroftRussian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that Ukraine attacked two oil refineries during the day, in Saratov and Ryazan regions.
"We see no indication that the Ukrainian side is moving towards an energy ceasefire," he said.
Watch: Zelensky tells Elon Musk 'people will die' over Starlink restrictions
Wednesday 14 October 2026 19:18 , Bryony GoochUK’s support for Ukraine ‘will not change’, Burnham tells Zelensky
Wednesday 14 October 2026 19:15 , Bryony GoochAndy Burnham pledged that Britain’s support for Ukraine “will not change” as he welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian president received an unprecedented honour guard on his arrival at No 10, made up of troops from the Irish Guards, amid what the Prime Minister described as “dark and difficult days” for his country.
Mr Burnham told Mr Zelensky: “You have seen the solidarity and the support you have got from everybody here in Britain.
“We are behind you and that will not change.
Watch: Zelensky feels 'betrayed' over Trump announcing energy ceasefire and diesel deal with Putin
Wednesday 14 October 2026 19:11 , Bryony GoochZelensky says he regrets difficulties over Starlink and intelligence sharing
Wednesday 14 October 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said it was a pity his country had experienced difficulties with Starlink services and intelligence, saying he had been surprised by developments in his partnership with the United States.
"It's a pity that we had also some difficulties... about Starlink, about intelligence, I mean a lot of different surprises on which you can't count when you have real partnership and we count on partnership with the United States," he said.
"We just want to be very honest, very clear and be strong partners."
Zelensky was speaking in London alongside British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Britain seeking to show support for the Ukrainian leader as his relationship with the US deteriorates.
Zelensky: Ukraine feels 'betrayed' by US
Wednesday 14 October 2026 18:52 , Bryony GoochAsked by Piers Morgan whether he felt “betrayed” by the events of the last few days, including Mr Trump’s diesel deal and claims an energy ceasefire had been agreed to by both Russia and Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Really, yes, between us.”
He added: “Our country has to survive, and we count on our real partners, strategic partners, the United States and President Trump.”
Mr Zelensky said that while an energy ceasefire “is OK” and “some step to peace”, it was not respected by Russia, which continued its aerial bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner,” Mr Zelensky said.
He added: “Now Putin is laughing because, I mean, this is for him, simple victory – this diesel deal.”
Zelensky receives unprecedented honour at No 10
Wednesday 14 October 2026 18:51 , Bryony GoochThe prime minister welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian president received an unprecedented honour guard on his arrival at No 10, made up of troops from the Irish Guards, amid what Andy Burnham described as “dark and difficult days” for his country.
‘Putin is laughing’: Zelensky hits out at US-Russian diesel deal
Wednesday 14 October 2026 18:43 , Bryony GoochVolodymyr Zelensky has declared Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia a “victory” for Vladimir Putin, which he said has left the Russian leader “laughing” and the US on the wrong side of history.
Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the Ukrainian president admitted he felt “betrayed” by the US president’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
Mr Zelensky warned Mr Trump: “This is not the right side of history.”
