Why Zelensky Took the Gloves Off This Time With Trump
Staying quiet is riskier than speaking up, Ukrainian officials say, as President Trump goes further than ever in prioritizing Russia’s interests. Credit... President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the European Union summit in Brussels last week. Ludovic Marin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By Maria Varenikova , The New York Times Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Oct. 20, 2026 Updated 4:39 p.m. ET Original article contains useful links Ukraine has been here before with President Trump. But this time, as the American leader plays down Russian violence and makes it harder for Kyiv to respond, Ukrainian leaders have taken a different tack. They have punched back. A senior Ukrainian official likened it to a last chance to sound an alarm as a tsunami approaches. Even before the latest blowup with Mr. Trump, things were looking difficult for Ukraine. Daily strikes were ravaging its energy infrastructure and economy. Ukrainian air defenses were depleted. A difficult winter was ...