Zelenskyy: Trump trying to force a capitulation

 

Elliot Morseth Edvinsson

Published 21:16 | Updated 21:44

Donald Trump is attempting to pressure Ukraine into surrendering to Russia, according to Zelenskyy.

“We have dangerous days ahead of us, leading up to the election,” he tells Bloomberg.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Sunday, Zelenskyy takes aim at Trump.

“I believe steps have been taken to force Ukraine to capitulate,” he tells the outlet.

One of the issues Trump is allegedly trying to influence concerns Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump is demanding that these be halted, as they drive up oil prices.

The proposal

Zelenskyy claims he attempted to find a middle ground with the U.S., but without success.

“My latest proposal was: We won’t attack Russian diesel production, and in exchange, you provide us with missiles for the Patriot systems to protect our own facilities,” he says.

Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy told NBC News that he believes the U.S. administration ordered a restriction on Elon Musk’s Starlink service, which is used to detect and counter drone attacks.

“Dangerous days”

He also tells the outlet that the U.S. temporarily cut off Ukraine’s access to American intelligence, leaving them unable to detect incoming missile strikes.

“We have dangerous days ahead of us, leading up to the election,” he continues, referring to the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.

He hopes for a better relationship following the election, but emphasizes that a great deal is at stake given Trump’s unpredictable shifts in position. “Politics becomes very aggressive during election periods,” he says, and continues:

“When the potential risk to Ukraine is as great as a tsunami, you have to intervene while it is still just a mild storm,” he tells Bloomberg.