In the US, discussions are underway regarding restrictions on the operation of the Starshield satellite system for the Ukrainian military, while American senators are demanding an investigation into disruptions affecting Starlink and the exchange of intelligence data. Meanwhile, US negotiators have proposed placing a portion of frozen Russian assets under Washington’s control—a move opposed by European representatives. Donald Trump also stated that he finds it more difficult to negotiate with Volodymyr Zelenskyy than with Putin, and mentioned ongoing talks with Russia and China regarding denuclearization.
Order to Restrict Starshield for Ukraine Came from the White House
The order to restrict the operation of the Starshield satellite system for the Ukrainian military originated from the White House. Ukraine utilizes this system for battlefield communications and drone operations. According to sources cited by Reuters, US Department of Defense leadership received instructions to slow down the Starshield service for Ukrainian forces. However, US and Western officials have not specified exactly who within the White House made this decision or who was responsible for its implementation.
Starshield is a specialized military and intelligence division of SpaceX, built upon the technology behind the Starlink satellite internet service. The system was developed to meet the needs of the US government, the Pentagon, and American intelligence agencies. Amid reports of disruptions to Starlink services, ten U.S. senators—from both the Republican and Democratic parties—have called for an investigation into potential issues affecting satellite communications and intelligence-sharing systems in Ukraine. The senators have asked the Pentagon’s Inspector General, Platt Moring, to determine whether these disruptions resulted from actions or decisions taken by the U.S. Department of Defense or its contractors, and have requested that the findings of the investigation be submitted in writing no later than November 1.
Merz opposes transferring Russian assets frozen in Europe to U.S. control
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken out against transferring Russian assets frozen in Europe to U.S. control. He emphasized that decisions regarding these funds should be made by European nations.
"These are assets that are frozen in Europe. And they must remain frozen in Europe. This is our business. And we are the ones who make the decisions regarding this," Merz stated ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels.
The Chancellor’s stance comes amid discussions regarding a U.S. proposal to utilize a portion of the frozen assets to facilitate peace negotiations.
Merz also called for an increase in European aid to Ukraine, specifically to support the country through the winter and into the coming year.
"We are witnessing an even more ruthless wave of Russian attacks against Ukraine. This morning, during several closed-door meetings, I advocated for us to do everything in our power to assist Ukraine—both throughout the winter and into next year." "We will have to increase funding here once again to truly ensure long-term support for Ukraine," the Chancellor emphasized.
He added that supporting Ukraine is vital for the security of all of Europe. "And I remain firmly convinced that we are defending not only Ukraine's territorial integrity but also the political order of Europe—an order that Russia is actively pressuring in every respect," Merz noted. According to him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate in a meeting of European leaders on Friday, October 16.
The US has proposed that Europe unfreeze a portion of Russian assets and place them under Washington's control.
American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed to representatives from Ukraine and European Union member states that a portion of frozen Russian assets be released and placed under Washington's control. The initiative was discussed last week during talks in Miami, which included representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the EU, and NATO. The American side presented several potential mechanisms for releasing the funds, including transferring them into a new, specialized financial instrument under US supervision. The objective of the proposal was to revive peace negotiations aimed at ending the war against Ukraine.
European negotiators rejected the initiative.
"European delegates rejected the proposal, stating that the initiative caught European capitals and Kyiv by surprise and raised questions regarding Washington's approach to pressuring Moscow to end the war against Ukraine," the Financial Times reported.
A source within the U.S. administration told the publication that the use of frozen Russian assets was considered in the context of a comprehensive peace agreement. At the same time, the mechanisms for unfreezing the funds and determining how they will be used remain a subject of discussion. In 2022, Western nations froze approximately 260 billion euros in Russian sovereign assets, the bulk of which are held within the EU.
Trump stated that the U.S. is in negotiations with Russia and China regarding denuclearization
US President Donald Trump stated, that Washington is engaged in negotiations with Russia and China regarding denuclearization. According to him, China could match the United States in terms of nuclear capability within the next five years.
"It’s all a shame, because I would really like to achieve denuclearization, if that’s possible. But we are indeed negotiating with Russia on this, and we are discussing denuclearization with China," Trump said in an interview with Newsmax.
He also discussed the issue of denuclearization with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump’s statement comes a few months before the expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in early 2026. The agreement was signed in 2010 and included a provision for a one-time, five-year extension. In 2021, then-U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin agreed to such an extension. Any future arrangements regarding the limitation of strategic arms would require a new, mutually agreed-upon decision. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, followed by the United States and China. At the same time, the United States leads Russia in the number of deployed nuclear warheads.
Trump Claims It Is Harder to Negotiate with Zelenskyy Than with Putin
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that it is more difficult for him to deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy than with the Kremlin leader, Putin. He made these remarks on October 15 during an interview with the television channel Newsmax, while responding to a question about the resumption of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. The host noted that Trump had asked Zelenskyy to refrain from such strikes, given high global diesel prices; the U.S. President confirmed that he had indeed made such a request.
"Zelenskyy is not the kind of person we find easy to deal with." "Biden gave him hundreds of billions of dollars, and billions upon billions of dollars' worth of equipment," Trump said.
He also expressed his belief that the parties would eventually reach some sort of settlement, though he accused Zelenskyy of being unwilling to negotiate.
Trump stated that the war must end soon, and reiterated that he finds it more difficult to negotiate with Zelenskyy than with Putin. He also claimed that strikes on oil refineries drive up global oil prices, and criticized the length of Zelenskyy’s tenure as president. Additionally, Trump mentioned an interview with a young Ukrainian woman who, according to him, stated that "President Zelenskyy has destroyed the country"—though he did not specify where he had seen this material. When asked about the possibility of holding elections in Ukraine, he said:
"I think elections are necessary, because no one is telling me that the people in Ukraine are happy about missiles hitting their apartment buildings."
Trump also remarked that Ukraine lacks the human resources that Russia possesses, and—referencing the occupation of Crimea—asserted that these events began during Barack Obama’s presidency.
"Crimea is, without a doubt, the most valuable part of Ukraine […]. The most beautiful piece of land. I’m a developer; I know good land when I see it," he said. Trump added that Putin and Zelenskyy hate each other—which, in his view, complicates a settlement—and repeated his claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was allegedly rigged.
Photo: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
Author: Danylo Pievchev