US resumes sharing intelligence with Ukraine about Russian missile strikes, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian president confirms advance warnings of ballistic missile attacks have been restored after suspension amid deepening US-Ukraine tensions

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Updated20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that the United States has resumed sharing intelligence with Kyiv about incoming Russian missile strikes, following a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo. Zelenskyy described the restored warnings as ‘great’ and said they would save civilian lives, amid the worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly five years ago.

Speaking after talks in the Norwegian capital, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine was again receiving advance alerts of ballistic missile attacks, which had been seemingly suspended by the White House last week. ‘Now it works. It’s great,’ he said. ‘It’s very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when ballistic [missiles] is coming. So we are thankful to the American side.’

The discussions, attended by Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and EU and British security officials, came after Donald Trump publicly accused Zelenskyy of failing to end the war and suggested Ukraine needed a new leader. Zelenskyy described a separate phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as ‘positive’.

Zelenskyy also raised restrictions imposed last week on Starshield, the military-grade satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s company, which has slowed Ukraine’s ability to launch mid-range drone strikes. He offered to halt Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russian oil refineries, a key Trump demand, if the US provided Patriot missile interceptors. The Pentagon has blocked delivery of Patriots paid for by other countries, leaving Kyiv more vulnerable to air attacks.

Opposing a reported Russian proposal for a trilateral summit between Putin, Trump, and Xi Jinping that would exclude Ukraine, Zelenskyy said: ‘There can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.’ EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned whether US negotiators had been honest brokers in peace efforts, noting that Witkoff has held numerous meetings with Putin while visiting Kyiv only once.

At least nine people were killed in Ukraine on Tuesday, including passengers hit by a Russian drone on the Kyiv-to-Odesa highway.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The resumption of intelligence sharing directly affects Ukraine’s ability to warn civilians and military personnel of incoming ballistic missile strikes, potentially saving lives.
The broader US-Ukraine crisis has seen Washington shift toward Moscow’s positions, alarming European allies and raising questions about the reliability of US commitments.
Restrictions on Starshield and stalled Patriot deliveries hinder Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities at a critical moment in the war.

Background

The current rupture in US-Ukraine relations began 10 days ago when Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel to lower US fuel prices ahead of midterm elections, then announced an energy ceasefire that Ukraine observed and Russia ignored. Trump has since publicly blamed Zelenskyy for the war’s continuation, and US peace proposals have largely echoed Russian maximalist demands. The White House temporarily suspended intelligence sharing and curtailed satellite communications without clear explanation, though US officials deny a deliberate political directive to harm Ukraine.

Key Perspectives

Ukraine: Zelenskyy welcomes the restored intelligence sharing as life-saving but remains concerned about broader US support, including Patriot missile deliveries and Starshield access. He insists Ukraine is not losing the war, though it is losing people to Russian attacks. United States: Secretary Rubio maintains nothing has changed and denies a political directive against Ukraine, citing global shortages of Patriot interceptors and US defence needs. The Trump administration continues to push for a negotiated settlement that largely reflects Russian terms. Russia: Not directly quoted, but Moscow’s proposed trilateral summit excluding Ukraine indicates its preference for a deal negotiated between great powers. Russia has ignored the US-brokered energy ceasefire. European allies: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questions whether US negotiators are honest brokers, noting Europe has prevented Ukraine’s surrender to Putin’s terms.

What to Watch

Whether the US restores full Starshield capabilities and resumes Patriot deliveries blocked by the Pentagon.
Ukraine’s next steps on long-range strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, following Zelenskyy’s conditional offer to halt them.
The fate of Putin’s proposed trilateral summit and whether Ukraine is included in any future negotiations.
Further civilian casualty numbers as a measure of the effectiveness of restored intelligence warnings.

Sources

US has resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine about Russian strikes, says Zelenskyy · World news | The Guardian
Zelensky says US intelligence sharing 'works now' after talks with Trump envoy in Oslo · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe US has resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine about Russian missile strikes.World news | The Guardian: “The US has resumed sharing intelligence with Kyiv about Russian missile strikes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday”
Partly supportedZelenskyy said Ukraine was again receiving advance warnings of ballistic missile attacks after they had been suspended.World news | The Guardian: “He said Ukraine was again receiving advance warnings of ballistic missile attacks, which were seemingly suspended last week by the White House.”
SupportedZelenskyy said the restored warnings were “great” and that the US move would save lives.World news | The Guardian: ““Now it works. It’s great,” he said, saying the US move would save lives.”
SupportedZelenskyy said: “It’s very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when ballistic [missiles] is coming. So we are thankful to the American side.”World news | The Guardian: ““It’s very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when ballistic [missiles] is coming. So we are thankful to the American side.””
SupportedThe meeting took place in Oslo amid the worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since Russia’s full-scale invasion.World news | The Guardian: “The talks in Oslo took place amid the worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion nearly five years ago.”
Partly supportedJared Kushner attended the talks with Witkoff, Zelenskyy, and the named European leaders and officials.World news | The Guardian: “The US president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined Witkoff and Zelenskyy by video. Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, and the Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, also took part, alongside EU and British security officials.”
Partly supportedTrump publicly accused Zelenskyy of failing to end the war and said Ukraine needed a new leader.World news | The Guardian: “Donald Trump has bitterly accused Zelenskyy of failing to end the war and has said Ukraine needed a new leader.”
SupportedZelenskyy described a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “positive.”World news | The Guardian: “Zelenskyy said he had held a “positive” phone call earlier with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio.”
SupportedZelenskyy said Starshield restrictions imposed last week had slowed Ukraine’s ability to launch mid-range drone strikes.World news | The Guardian: “He said he had raised with Rubio restrictions imposed last week on Starshield, the military-grade version of Elon Musk’s’s satellite internet service. The slowdown has crippled Ukraine’s ability to launch mid-range drone strikes on Russian battlefield positions.”
SupportedZelenskyy offered to stop Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russian oil refineries if the US provided Patriot interceptors.World news | The Guardian: “Zelenskyy said he had offered to stop Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russian oil refineries – a key Trump demand – if the US provided Kyiv with Patriot missile interceptors.”
SupportedThe Pentagon blocked delivery of Patriots paid for by other countries, leaving Kyiv more vulnerable to air attacks.World news | The Guardian: “The Pentagon has blocked the delivery of Patriots to Kyiv paid for by other countries, leaving Kyiv more vulnerable than ever to air attacks.”
SupportedZelenskyy opposed a proposed Putin-Trump-Xi summit that would exclude Ukraine and said, “There can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”World news | The Guardian: “Zelenskyy also said he opposed a trilateral summit floated by Putin, which would see the Russian leader, Trump and China’s president, Xi Jinping, meet next month to strike a Ukraine deal. Zelenskyy would be shut out, the Wall Street Journal reported. “There can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in Oslo.”