French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Thursday that the United States is no longer providing direct support to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Speaking at the European Political Community Summit in Ireland, Macron emphasized that European nations must now take the lead in aiding Kyiv. He noted that without European intervention, there would be no remaining support for the Ukrainian war effort.
Macron told reporters that Europe is responsible for helping Ukraine in what he described as a resistance war. He asserted that while mediation efforts are ongoing, Europeans will ultimately be the ones to define and decide their own future security. The comments were shared in a clip posted on the social platform X, highlighting the shift in diplomatic responsibility.
These remarks followed a significant diplomatic development in which Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war. This agreement was reached after two days of talks mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi. The prisoner swap marked a notable moment in the ongoing negotiations between the warring parties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously expressed gratitude to European leaders for their consistent backing. He praised the EU Council, the Commission, and individual leaders for staying with Ukraine from the start of the war. Zelensky described these leaders as real leaders who have maintained their commitment throughout the conflict.
In recent weeks, tensions have risen between the United States and Ukraine despite American mediation efforts. Friction has grown over issues including a slowdown in Starlink services and a diesel deal struck between America and Russia. Zelensky has criticized President Donald Trump for agreeing to supply diesel to the US and the global market with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The political friction was evident in a recent exchange between the two leaders. Trump responded to Zelensky's criticism during an interview on Newsmax, stating that the Ukrainian leader is not a good guy for the US to deal with. This public sparring highlights the complex dynamics within the transatlantic partnership.
Last month, a localized ceasefire was secured in the front-line city of Oleshky by First Lady Melania Trump. The temporary pause in hostilities began at 3 a.m. local time on October 27 and was scheduled to last through October 31. The ceasefire was intended to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid, though it was originally planned to start on October 29.
The Starlink controversy intensified shortly before the Oleshky ceasefire announcement. Ukraine faced restrictions on its access to Starshield, which limited the use of the satellite internet service for objects traveling faster than 100 mph. This restriction affected Ukrainian drones, airplanes, and helicopters, causing significant operational challenges and sparking debate over who was responsible for the decision.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk initially stated that the US military made the choice to restrict Starshield usage. However, he later suggested his own involvement in a social media post. He claimed that the Ukrainian military had violated terms of service by using the system for offensive drone strikes, a loophole that was closed the previous week.
On Thursday, Zelensky reported that Ukraine is once again facing restrictions on Starshield access. He warned that these limitations allow more Russian strikes to reach their targets, resulting in more casualties. The Ukrainian president said his team is seeking details from the American side but noted that they currently know very little about the specific reasons for the new restrictions.
