Zelenskyj says Kyiv maintains contact with Trump team almost every day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced in a video address published on X on Monday evening that Kyiv maintains contact with representatives of US President Donald Trump almost every day.
Daily Contact Between Kyiv and Washington Amid US Pressure
Zelenskyj stated that the communication with the American president’s team remains constructive. According to reports from the Financial Times and The Kyiv Independent, the United States has threatened to halt weapons deliveries and intelligence sharing if Ukraine continues its strikes against Russian oil refineries. A Ukrainian source told The Kyiv Independent that US officials contacted top military leaders to warn that intelligence sharing and the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism could be frozen. PURL is the arrangement that allows European NATO countries to purchase American weapons for Ukraine. This weekend, representatives from Ukraine and the United States met in Miami, alongside representatives from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, to discuss whether a ceasefire could be achieved where Ukraine and Russia stop targeting energy facilities and oil refineries, as well as ending attacks that hinder the transport of Ukrainian grain out of the Black Sea.
Russia Continues Striking Energy Facilities Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim
On Sunday, Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire. However, neither Moscow nor Kyiv had confirmed any such agreement beforehand, and Russian forces continued striking energy facilities. Zelenskyj reported that Russia launched six attacks against energy infrastructure on Monday alone, leaving 33 people wounded. The capital city of Kyiv previously suffered blackouts following strikes against civilian infrastructure on October 9. Zelenskyj asserted that the United States possesses the strength and capability to secure a real and reliable de-escalation from Russia, while emphasizing that Ukraine remains willing to enter into a mutual energy ceasefire if Moscow stops its attacks.
Zelenskyj Discusses Strategy with European Leaders and Reports Russian Losses
Alongside the American dialogue, Zelenskyj detailed extensive discussions with European leaders on Monday, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Turning to the battlefield, Zelenskyj claimed that Russian forces are suffering severe losses, asserting that Russian troops in the Dobropillja area alone incur approximately 200 fatalities daily alongside numerous serious injuries, though these figures remain unverified by independent sources.
