OSLO, Norway — Growing tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have raised fresh questions about Washington’s commitment to Ukraine, despite renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at easing disagreements over military assistance, intelligence sharing and negotiations to end Russia’s war.
The latest tensions came into focus ahead of talks in Oslo, where Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Zelensky as diplomatic efforts continued to find a path toward ending the conflict. Although the two men exchanged a hug before the discussions, the gesture did little to erase concerns about the increasingly strained relationship between Kyiv and Washington.
Zelensky shared a video of the moment on social media, expressing gratitude to Ukraine’s partners and emphasizing his country’s commitment to peace. However, recent statements and policy decisions from the Trump administration have left Ukrainian officials questioning whether the United States remains a dependable partner.
Trump’s criticism fuels tensions
Relations between Trump and Zelensky have been marked by repeated disagreements, but the latest exchanges have intensified concerns about the future of their cooperation.
Trump has publicly criticized Zelensky, questioning his approach to negotiations and suggesting that the Ukrainian leader is standing in the way of a potential settlement. The remarks have added to the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s strategy toward the war.
Zelensky, who has generally avoided direct confrontation with Trump, has also expressed growing frustration. Addressing American lawmakers, he raised concerns about decisions made in Washington that he said were difficult to understand between partners and warned that political considerations could be slowing assistance to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president has rejected accusations that he is obstructing peace efforts, insisting that Kyiv has welcomed initiatives aimed at ending the war while maintaining that any settlement must protect Ukraine’s dignity and national interests.
The latest dispute reflects a longstanding lack of trust between the two leaders, whose relationship has repeatedly shifted between diplomatic engagement and public confrontation.
U.S. policy toward Russia raises concerns in Kyiv
Ukraine’s concerns have intensified following Washington’s reported decision to ease certain restrictions affecting Russian oil related trade and an agreement involving Russian diesel supplies to the United States.
The developments have raised questions about whether the Trump administration is reducing economic pressure on Moscow while encouraging Ukraine to make concessions in negotiations.
For Kyiv, the timing is particularly sensitive because Ukrainian forces have continued targeting Russian oil infrastructure as part of efforts to weaken Moscow’s ability to finance its military campaign.
Trump has questioned Ukraine’s strategy of striking Russian energy facilities, while his administration has argued that diplomatic negotiations remain necessary to bring the conflict to an end.
However, critics of the administration’s approach fear that easing pressure on Russia could strengthen President Vladimir Putin’s position at the negotiating table.
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor has expressed concern that Washington’s approach appears to offer incentives to Russia while applying pressure on Ukraine.
Moscow, meanwhile, has welcomed developments that could improve its economic position and ease tensions with Washington.
Ukraine faces concerns over air defence and intelligence
Beyond diplomatic disagreements, Ukraine is increasingly concerned about access to the military capabilities it needs to defend its cities against Russian attacks.
One of the most pressing issues is the availability of American made Patriot air defence interceptors, which are crucial for countering Russian ballistic missiles. Global shortages and reported delays in supplies have made it more difficult for Ukraine to maintain its air defence capacity.
Ukrainian officials have also raised concerns about access to American intelligence, which helps the country detect incoming attacks and warn civilians before missiles strike.
Zelensky previously said Ukraine had experienced periods without the advance warnings it needed during ballistic missile attacks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Washington had deliberately suspended intelligence sharing, attributing reported disruptions to a technical problem.
Uncertainty has also surrounded Ukraine’s access to Starlink satellite internet services, which play an important role in communications between Ukrainian military units.
Reports of connectivity restrictions have raised concerns about their potential impact on Ukraine’s ability to respond to fast moving Russian drones and coordinate operations on the battlefield. U.S. officials have denied that the White House ordered a slowdown in internet access.
Although Zelensky expressed optimism following the Oslo discussions about resolving some of these concerns, the episode has highlighted the extent to which Ukraine depends on American support for its military operations.
A history of mistrust between Trump and Zelensky
The current tensions are rooted partly in disagreements that predate Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
During Trump’s first presidency, relations with Kyiv became strained after he asked Zelensky to investigate allegations involving Joe Biden, his political rival at the time. The episode led to Trump’s first impeachment after military assistance to Ukraine became central to the controversy.
The two leaders later experienced another major confrontation during a meeting at the White House in February 2025, when Trump and senior American officials criticized Zelensky over his approach to the war and negotiations.
The dispute was followed by a temporary suspension of U.S. military assistance and restrictions on intelligence sharing, demonstrating how quickly political disagreements can affect Ukraine’s security.
Although cooperation subsequently resumed through arrangements involving European countries purchasing American military equipment for Ukraine, questions about the reliability of U.S. support have continued to emerge.
The latest developments have renewed concerns that political disagreements between the two presidents could once again affect decisions with direct consequences for Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Oslo talks offer a possible opening
Despite the strained relationship, diplomatic engagement has continued as Washington seeks to advance negotiations with Moscow.
Following the Oslo talks, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the discussions had helped clarify several issues. Zelensky also described conversations with American officials as productive and indicated that some concerns surrounding early-warning intelligence had been addressed.
Witkoff is expected to carry updated proposals to St. Petersburg for further discussions with Russian officials, placing renewed attention on Moscow’s response and the prospects for progress toward a settlement.
However, significant disagreements remain over the conditions for peace, the future of Ukraine’s security arrangements and the level of pressure that should be maintained on Russia.
For Ukraine, any agreement must provide meaningful protection against future aggression rather than simply bring the current fighting to a temporary halt.
The coming days could therefore prove important in determining whether the latest diplomatic efforts lead to renewed cooperation or expose further divisions between Washington and Kyiv.
While the Oslo meeting may have helped ease immediate tensions, the deeper questions surrounding American policy toward Ukraine remain unresolved.
