Ukrainians feel betrayed. So do we.
President Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed by the diesel deal President Trump made with Russia. Since its announcement on October 9, Russian strikes have killed more than 70 people across Ukraine and injured more than 375, according to Ukrainian regional authorities. Behind every number is a mother, a father, a child, a neighbor.
The deal breaks with nearly five years of sanctions on Russia for its full-scale invasion. It eases pressure on the energy revenues funding the war, just three weeks after President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Energy analysts say it is unlikely to lower U.S. diesel prices by more than a few cents a gallon. Ukraine is paying for it in lives.
Then came the “energy ceasefire” announced on October 11. Russia never publicly committed to it, and Ukrainian energy facilities were hit by ballistic missiles and drones that day and repeatedly since. Ukraine withheld fire from Russian energy infrastructure for three days while strikes on its people continued.
And now the tools that keep Ukrainians alive are being restricted and threatened.
On two nights this week, Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv with no early warning from Ukraine’s partners, as the Trump administration threatened to cut off intelligence Ukraine relies on to detect missile launches.
Overnight on October 13–14, SpaceX restricted the speed of Starlink terminals in motion, without warning Ukraine. Ukraine’s military relies on Starlink to stay connected on the battlefield when Russia destroys communication networks. It also links the interceptor drones that shoot down Russia’s jet-powered attack drones before they reach homes, hospitals, and power plants.
On October 15, a Russian drone struck a residential courtyard in Kyiv’s Pecherskyi District. Seven people were injured.
Siding with a dictator and murderer is not an American value. We believe in justice, freedom, and human rights. United Help Ukraine calls on all Americans to defend them.
Ukraine will keep showing up. We need you to do three things today:
1. Call your representatives and urge them to reverse the diesel deal.
2. Share this article and help others understand what’s at stake.
3. Support our humanitarian work by donating.
Even now, we can push back, and we will.
