On November 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the US approach to negotiations with Russia and raised concerns about Starshield restrictions in occupied territories. He also warned of threats to major Ukrainian cities and stressed the need for support from international partners to protect them.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the remarks in an address to participants of the 9th European Political Community Summit.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s strong positions on the front line were the result of cooperation with international partners. He called for continued joint defense projects and weapons production.
The president said that a speed limit of 161 km/h had once again been imposed on Starshield in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, complicating the work of Ukrainian interceptor drones and their ability to shoot down Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. Previously, such restrictions had applied only within Russia. Ukraine is seeking clarification from the US side about why the restrictions have been extended to occupied Ukrainian territory.
“We are trying to get the details from the American side, but so far we know very little. But some things are already clear. If someone in America is making decisions that basically treat Ukrainian territory as if it is not Ukrainian, then this tells us where things are going,” Zelenskyy said.
The president also commented on the meeting between US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. He described discussions between the US and Russia about a new European security order as “a little strange.”
According to Zelenskyy, a new security order is unnecessary because, for 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, European countries sought to develop trade, cooperation and good relations with Russia.
Separately, Zelenskyy stated that Putin had told people close to him about his intention to destroy life in Ukraine’s major cities.
“Putin has told people in his inner circle — and this is real information — that he wants to destroy life in these cities. That’s why we see this constant terror against Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson and other cities,” the president said.
Ukraine has already prepared resilience plans for these cities, but their implementation requires dedicated support from international partners.
On the evening of November 12, Zelenskyy will meet with Witkoff and Kushner in Dublin. They plan to discuss the results of the talks in Abu Dhabi and the US representatives’ meeting with Putin.
