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In Brussels, Zelensky rallies European allies amid rift with Washington
President Volodymyr Zelensky spent Thursday rallying European allies in Brussels, seeking backing from European leaders as a dispute with Washington over strikes on Russian oil refineries deepened.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 16, 2026
• 3 Min Read
A day of meetings in Brussels
Zelensky met NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels and held a string of bilateral meetings with European leaders ahead of an EU summit on Friday. The diplomatic push came at a tense moment: outages to a critical US-provided satellite system have hampered Ukraine's military ability to counter Russia's intense bombardments, heightening anger in Kyiv. Relations with Washington soured last week when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets.
Kyiv abandons the refinery strike pause
Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine would no longer hold off targeting Russian refineries because Moscow was not abiding by a ceasefire on hitting energy infrastructure announced by the US. He said the Kremlin had launched yet another drone strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the city of Lutsk, causing blackouts.
Russia has demonstratively disregarded the American president's proposal for an energy ceasefire. And now it is taking advantage of problems with Starlink operations
Russia, for its part, accused Ukraine of derailing US peace efforts. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv continues to launch strikes against refinery facilities, calling this a serious conflict with the peace efforts of the United States, and Russian authorities reported a drone attack on an oil refinery south of Moscow that caused a fire.
Satellite outages strain the battlefield
Ukraine's military relies on the Starshield satellite communications system to detect incoming Russian attacks and coordinate its frontline response. The system is used for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russian-occupied territory and interceptor drones, and is separate from the Starlink civilian satellite system, which Ukraine also uses but not for offensive operations.
Officials said speeds were slower on Wednesday, affecting connectivity. Defence officials also confirmed the United States had threatened to withdraw intelligence-sharing if Ukraine continued long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries. Elon Musk, who has called for Zelensky to be replaced, said SpaceX was not behind any disruption to Starshield.
- •Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, Musk said
- •Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the president, he said
European leaders answer
Zelensky said online that strong signals are needed to end the war – more real pressure on Russia and more defence support for Ukraine. "It is especially important now to act together to protect lives," he wrote. French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday it was crucial that Ukraine receive all the means necessary to protect itself after meeting Zelensky. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted online: "I can reassure you, dear Ukrainian friends and President Zelensky: YOU ARE NOT ALONE".
Zelensky was set to join an EU summit on Friday as Russia's bombardment of Ukraine and its capital continues, causing mounting civilian casualties.
