Photo via South China Morning Post

US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold

Read the original at South China Morning Post ↗
Cite

Reuters. (2026, October 18). US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371280/us-russia-deal-trump-zelensky-clash-could-leave-ukraine-out-cold?utm_source=rss_feed

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

South China Morning Post · collected 2026-10-18 · by Reuters

Quick Summary

Analysts warn that recent actions by US President Donald Trump, such as lifting sanctions and tariffs on Russia and criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over energy costs, could undermine the relationship between Ukraine and its key ally, the United States. This week’s developments include a threat to cut off intelligence support for Ukraine and a diesel deal that may aid Russia in funding its ongoing war against Ukraine. In response to Trump's actions, Zelensky has publicly criticized Trump, asserting that the US is now prioritizing Russia over Ukraine, while also declaring Ukraine will continue striking Russian energy targets despite Trump’s demands.
Written by AI on 2026-10-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

As of October 19, 2026, Ukraine is facing significant challenges due to deteriorating relations between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukraine's military operations are being hampered by disruptions in satellite support from SpaceX’s Starshield system, which the US government controls. This disruption has raised concerns about a decline in American support for Kyiv at a critical time when Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Trump declared an energy ceasefire but both sides continued to attack each other's facilities, with Trump blaming high U.S. energy costs partly on Ukraine’s strikes against Russian oil and gas targets. Zelensky responded by criticizing Trump for easing up on Russia through the waiver of sanctions and tariffs, actions that could encourage Moscow to continue its aggressive behavior.

The situation has reached a new low with Trump's decision to lift key sanctions on Russia just before they were set to take effect, further straining ties between Washington and Kyiv. Zelensky fears these moves will embolden Putin to escalate the conflict, while Ukraine’s critical need for early warning systems against Russian attacks remains unmet.

Amidst this turmoil, Ukraine is increasingly looking towards the European Union for additional support, particularly in securing more air defenses as it braces for another harsh winter of potential Russian assaults. The fractious relationship between Trump and Zelensky poses a significant risk to Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and strategic alliances.

Written for “Trump-Zelenskiy Rift And US Russia Deal” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Trump-Zelenskiy Rift And US Russia Deal
Politics · 7 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads leans left and hedges 33% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
As Russia penalises European firms over Ukraine, US rivals largely spared Different event
The Straits Times
⚖️ Leans right further right than this Hedges 2 of 36 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles describe different aspects of Russia's relationship with Europe and the US regarding Ukraine, not the same specific incident.”
Trump-Zelenskiy rift threatens vital support for Kyiv Same event
Dawn
Hedges 11 of 35 claims Outlet record 72/100
US ties with Ukraine hit new low as Trump slights Zelenskyy and eases up on Russia Same event
Toronto Star
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 5 of 44 claims Outlet record 64/100
Ukraine accuses U.S. of helping Russia as missiles hit Kyiv Different event
National Post
Hedges 5 of 25 claims Outlet record 60/100
“The articles describe different events: one about Ukraine accusing the U.S. of not warning about missile strikes (2026-10-14), and another about deteriorating relations between Ukraine and the U.S. due to Trump's actions (2026-10-18).”
Russia is at war with Nato ‘today’, says former top military commander Different event
Evening Standard
⚖️ Leans strongly right further right than this Hedges 0 of 17 claims Outlet record 64/100
“The articles discuss related geopolitical tensions between Russia and NATO/NATO member states but describe different specific events: one focuses on a retired general's warning at an Atlantic Council event, while the other discusses US-Russia deals and their impact on Ukraine.”
Trump’s oil deal with Putin and more: Letters to the Editor — Oct. 18, 2026 Same event
New York Post
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 0 of 25 claims Outlet record 66/100
Will the EU come to Ukraine’s rescue in war against Russia? Same event
Al Jazeera
Hedges 0 of 8 claims Outlet record 60/100
Treasury secretary refuses to say if the U.S. sees Ukraine as an ally Different event
NBC News
Hedges 0 of 26 claims Outlet record 78/100
“The articles cover related events involving US-Ukraine tensions and Trump's actions but describe different specific incidents: one about potential deals and sanctions, the other about Treasury Secretary Bessent dodging questions on whether Ukraine is an ally.”
Trump waives new Russia sanctions Same event
Semafor
Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 59/100
Trump defends shifting positions on Ukraine, touts progress with Russia Different event
CBS News
Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 65/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the relationship between Trump's actions regarding Ukraine and Russia, but do not report on a single identical incident occurring at the same time.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
9
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
33%
3 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
Leans left
of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate
Publisher signals
62/100
South China Morning Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
7
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-18 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

South China Morning Post · 3754 article(s) · 8 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 8 correction(s)
2026-11-03
Singapore hit-and-run: organiser of fund for orphaned boy vows transparency
2026-11-01
Former Apple Daily publisher joins mainland China tour for rehabilitated offenders
2026-10-16
Nobel Peace Prize: the message behind Navi Pillay’s win
2026-10-16
Indonesian governor’s Singapore trip adds fury to forest fire, haze crisis
2026-10-04
Flight to Okinawa diverts back to Hong Kong after suspected landing gear fault
2026-10-04
Tennessee prisons chief resigning after botched execution of Christa Pike
2026-09-29
Indonesian prison chief suspended over secret VIP compound for inmates
2026-09-28
Trump ‘arms offer’ to China jolts Washington into moves to contain the fallout

Who wrote this

Reuters
883 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Democrats seized control of the US Congress on Wednesday, capturing the Senate and House of Representatives in a stunning, nationwide rejection of Donald Trump set to put the brakes on the final two years of his presidency.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · Democrats win US Congress in midterm rout of Trump
🔮 If Democrats can manage a net gain of at least two seats, they will lead a majority of states for the first time since 2010.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · Democrats make history in governor races; Hinojosa, Bottoms, Haaland win
🔮 Trump repeatedly favoured loyalists and ideological allies over more established Republicans with stronger statewide networks and proven electoral track records, betting that his endorsement could overcome their political liabilities.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · Trump hand-picked Senate candidates. Republicans paid the price
🔮 Democrats seized control of the US Congress on Wednesday, capturing the Senate and House of Representatives in a stunning, nationwide rejection of Donald Trump set to put the brakes on the final two years of his presidency.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · US midterms: Democrats win US Congress in midterm rout of Trump
🔮 Trump struck a conciliatory note despite his history of questioning election results, telling The New York Times: “I am absolutely willing to accept those results” and promising to “work with the Democrats”.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · US midterms: Democrats win Congress in major setback for Trump
🔮 As Speaker, Mr. Jeffries, representing a New York City congressional district, would preside over a majority that will be sworn in the first week of January, taking the reins from Republicans who controlled the House for the past four years. “Today begins the great American comeback,” Mr. Jeffries proclaimed in a victory speech late on Tuesday after media outlets projected the likelihood of Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · Hakeem Jeffries poised to become first Black Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives
🔮 The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, weighing roughly 3,200 pounds (1,452 kg), was set to tumble out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere somewhere over the tropics, with fragments surviving re-entry unlikely to threaten populated areas, according to Nasa.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · Nasa's Swift satellite telescope heads for fiery re-entry 22 years after launch
🔮 Trump struck a conciliatory note despite his history of questioning election results, telling The New York Times: “I am absolutely willing to accept those results” and promising to “work with the Democrats.” But minutes later on social media the 80-year-old signaled how he intends to deal with Democratic attempts to pass laws, posting a picture of a red baseball cap emblazoned: “VETO.”
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · US midterms: Democrats projected to win Congress in major setback for Trump
🔮 Democrats have seized control of both houses of Congress, in a rout of President Donald Trump’s Republicans in the midterm elections, US networks projected.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · US midterms: Democrats projected to flip Senate and take full control of Congress
🔮 Democrats won the House and were within reach of taking over the Senate in a rapidly building midterms wave Tuesday projected to sweep Republicans aside and deliver a stinging repudiation of Donald Trump’s bruising presidency.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · US midterms: Democrats win US House in growing midterms wave against Trump
Wire or desk byline, not an individual reporter.
Also by Reuters
Democrats win US Congress in midterm rout of Trump
2026-11-04 · Dawn
Democrats make history in governor races; Hinojosa, Bottoms, Haaland win
2026-11-04 · The Hindu
Trump hand-picked Senate candidates. Republicans paid the price
2026-11-04 · Dawn
US midterms: Democrats win US Congress in midterm rout of Trump
2026-11-04 · Dawn
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 883 articles by Reuters →

Topics

Moscow Russia Russian Ukraine Ukrainian

Subjects

Trump PERSON · 7× Russia GPE · 5× Ukraine GPE · 5× Russian NORP · 4× Zelensky PERSON · 3× Ukrainian NORP · 2× Kyiv GPE · 1× Moscow GPE · 1× Putin PERSON · 1× Washington GPE · 1×

Narrative

US President Donald Trump, frustrated by high energy costs he blames partly on Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, has repeatedly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-18
🔮 US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold
2026-10-18 · South China Morning Post
US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold · mixed framing

Claims (9 extracted, 3 hedged)

US-Russia deal, Trump-Zelensky clash could leave Ukraine out in the cold uncertain
deal → leave → cold
Analysts say Trump’s action, including lifting sanctions and tariffs on Moscow, would prompt Putin to continue the war asserted
action → say → war
From US threats to cut off intelligence support for Ukraine to a waiver of tariffs on Russian exports and a diesel deal that could help Russia fund its war, it has been a damaging week for ties between Kyiv and its most important ally, Washington. uncertain
it → cut → Kyiv
US President Donald Trump, frustrated by high energy costs he blames partly on Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, has repeatedly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. asserted
he → frustrate → Zelensky
A disruption of US-provided satellite internet services raised fears that Ukraine could be vulnerable as it prepares for another winter of Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. uncertain
it → provide → infrastructure
Zelensky responded to Trump’s barbs with an unusually sharp series of public criticisms of Trump, suggesting the US was now favouring Russia. asserted
US → respond → Russia
He said Ukraine would defy Trump’s demand to stop striking Russian energy targets, citing Russia’s continued attacks. asserted
Ukraine → say → attacks
Intensifying the discord, Trump waived key US Russia-related sanctions and tariffs on Friday, shortly before they were scheduled to take effect. asserted
they → intensify → effect
That prompted Zelensky to say in social media posts that Trump’s action would encourage Russia to continue attacks on Ukraine. asserted
action → prompt → Ukraine
💬Give feedback · no sign-in needed

No sign-in needed for now. Your note is sent without a name, so it cannot be answered.

🕘History 🎫Support
Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0
Articles to 4 Nov 2026