US-Ukraine Ties Strained as Trump Eases Russia Sanctions Amidst Ukrainian Advances

An artilleryman from the Special Rifle Police Battalion of Zaporizhia region is seen setting up a Starlink satellite internet system at a front-line position in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on October 16, 2026, amidst Russia's ongoing attack. The United States' relationship with Ukraine has faced significant strain over the past week. US President Donald Trump has lifted certain oil sanctions against Russia and is reportedly restricting Ukraine's access to US intelligence and satellite services, potentially hindering its defensive capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his disappointment, telling journalist Piers Morgan, "It is a pity we are losing … a strong partner." He added, "It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side. This is not [the] right side of history."

On October 9, Trump invited Russia to sell 1.8 million tonnes of diesel to the global market by year-end to help reduce transport prices. This move effectively reversed the Lindsey Graham Act, which Trump had signed into law days earlier, granting him the authority to impose secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil.

Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine's partners did not share intelligence regarding five ballistic missiles that targeted Kyiv on October 13, resulting in strikes on Kyiv’s Thermal Power Plant number 4 and causing power outages. Russia subsequently intensified its attacks on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure on October 14. During this period, Ukraine reported restrictions on its use of SpaceX's satellite navigation services, crucial for its defense.

Over a 24-hour span, Russia launched 850 drones and 39 missiles, hitting 30 energy targets across 19 Ukrainian regions, despite Trump's declaration of an energy ceasefire on October 11. "This level of blatant disregard for the United States by Russia has not been seen before," Zelenskyy remarked.

Starshield, the military component of SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, limited Ukraine's use of its navigation services to 160 km/h (100mph). This speed restriction made it difficult or impossible for Ukraine to track and intercept Russian jet-powered Geran-4 drones, which fly at speeds exceeding 500 km/h (310mph). According to Zelenskyy, six out of ten Russian drones are now jet-powered. Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, stated, "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." Sources within Ukraine's Ministry of Defence indicated that Starshield services began returning to normal on October 15.

The prolonged disruption of navigation services for interceptors could be devastating for Ukraine, given the high volume of Russian aerial strikes. In September alone, Ukraine's air force intercepted over 4,700 drones and missiles. Starshield is also vital for Ukraine's efforts to disrupt Russian supply lines, which have seen Ukraine strike fuel trucks, bridges, ammunition depots, and air defense systems. In September, Ukraine's military reported striking 40 command posts and 50 logistics facilities. Data from Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces showed a decrease in strikes from a daily average of 2,300 to 1,678 on October 14 and 1,053 on October 15.

This is not the first service disruption under the Trump administration; the US had also halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March, which reportedly aided Russia in reclaiming its Kursk region after a Ukrainian counter-invasion.

Despite these setbacks, Ukraine continues to regain territory. The Third Army Corps has concluded the fourth phase of Operation Vivaldi in the Donetsk region, reclaiming an additional 100 sq km (40 sq miles) of territory, according to Corps commander Andrii Biletskyi. This brings the operation's total gains to 275 sq km (100 sq miles) and 16 settlements since August, significantly diminishing Russia's territorial gains for the year. This campaign aimed to counter a Russian effort to capture the town of Lyman. A separate counteroffensive in the south has pushed back against an attempted Russian takeover of Dobropillya. Ukraine views these initiatives as an attempt to encircle the strategic towns of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in a pincer movement.

Ukraine's counteroffensives have successfully drawn Russian units away from the front lines facing Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, paralyzing that sector of the front. The Institute for the Study of War reported a significant decrease in Russian attacks in the Sloviansk direction, from an average of 14 per day in August 2026 to three per day in October 2026. Similarly, attacks in the Kramatorsk direction dropped from an average of three per day in August 2026 to 0.3 per day in October 2026.

"We are stopping all enemy attempts to advance or infiltrate," stated Zelenskyy. "Ukraine’s positions on the front remain strong, and this year they are the strongest they have been in a long time." He noted that Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian forces by six to eight times in certain areas and appear to have recently received reinforcements. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, indicated that this personnel increase has led to a substantial rise in Russian casualties, with a 25 percent increase in the first two weeks of October compared to September, and almost a 60 percent increase compared to August. In Dobropyllia, Russian casualties were notably higher, exceeding September's rate by 43 percent and doubling August's rate.

Ukraine's success is partly attributed to its domestic drone production in collaboration with European allies. Ukraine's Defence Ministry's orders in 2026 were 50 percent higher than in 2025, with delivery volumes nearly four times greater than the previous year.

Although Ukraine initially respected Trump's energy ceasefire for three days, it resumed strikes on Russian refineries on October 15. The country also continued to target non-energy infrastructure throughout the week. Ukraine struck a facility manufacturing explosives and rocket fuel in Nizhny Novgorod on October 9, and a plant producing additives for missile fuels in the Tver region. On October 15, four Sukhoi fighters were destroyed and two more damaged at the Borisoglebsk airfield in the Voronezh region. Ukraine also targeted three data centers owned by the Russian cloud services company Yandex, crippling those in Sasovo, Kaluga, and Vladimir between October 8 and 11. Additionally, a data center owned by Sberbank was struck on October 14, causing disruptions to Russian online payment and other services.