President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is negotiating a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine while criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s approach to the conflict. In a social media post, Trump accused Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war. Trump argued that Ukraine could have secured a better deal two years ago and noted the loss of land and personnel the country has sustained.
The statements follow Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel refineries, which Trump criticized. Trump announced on Sunday that he has decided to delay implementing new sanctions against Russia, stating he does not want to drive Moscow away from the bargaining table. He added that progress is being made in peace talks and hostage negotiations, noting he retains the authority to sign sanctions at a later time.
Zelenskyy responded by warning that siding with Moscow would be a "historic mistake" for the United States. During an interview on NBC’s "Meet the Press," Zelenskyy argued that waiving sanctions against Russia, particularly those related to diesel exports, would strengthen the Russian war effort. He also stated that U.S.-Ukraine intelligence sharing had resumed after being "blocked for some period of time," an assertion Secretary of State Marco Rubio said was "not deliberate."
On the battlefield, both nations reported strikes over the weekend. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted more than 1,015 Ukrainian drones across 15 regions and occupied Crimea. Local authorities in St. Petersburg reported one death and five injuries following attacks that sparked fires at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot. In Ukraine, officials reported a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia killed one woman and wounded at least two others, including a 6-year-old girl.
Ukrainian officials also raised concerns regarding the Starlink satellite network, alleging that constrained data speeds inhibited drone operations. Secretary of State Rubio stated that the U.S. government did not order any slowdown of Starlink services and that speeds had since been restored. Zelenskyy noted that he had recently spoken with U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding diplomatic steps following an Oct. 9 meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators in Miami.
What happens next depends on the ongoing negotiations led by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. While Trump stated he could sign new sanctions "any time that I want," no specific deadline or triggers for those sanctions were reported. Further diplomatic steps are expected following the Oct. 9 Miami meeting. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) has called for a congressional probe into the Starlink service disruptions.