Trump says United States continues to share intelligence with Ukraine
President Donald Trump told Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on Oct. 13 that the United States has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, dismissing reports that Washington threatened to withhold data after Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The comment was made during a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., where Trump emphasized that the United States "helps" Kyiv and is "working with them and with Russia on getting the war to end." He added that the administration continues to provide Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha, with intelligence data.
Doocy asked whether Washington had halted intelligence flow during an earlier briefing, prompting White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to note she would need to follow up on the question. The inquiry came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv did not receive an "early warning" before a recent Russian strike, though he did not blame the United States or any other partner for the lapse.
Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha later confirmed that Kyiv continues to receive U.S. intelligence, reinforcing Trump’s denial. The issue surfaced amid broader tensions over an energy cease‑fire announced by Trump, which he said prevents both Russia and Ukraine from targeting each other’s energy facilities.
Zelensky asserted that Ukraine has upheld the cease‑fire, while Russian forces have persisted in striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, leaving civilians without power, heat, and water. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly responded, and the Kremlin says diplomatic contacts on the matter remain ongoing.
In a separate statement on Monday, Trump maintained that the cease‑fire was holding, despite evidence to the contrary. He remarked, "They agreed because I said they agree," referring to the alleged agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump also clarified his earlier comment that Putin "wants to make a deal more than Zelensky," noting that both leaders want an end to the war but lack a clear path to achieve it. The president added that the United States is working to facilitate a resolution for both sides.
Earlier in the week, Trump criticized Kyiv for targeting Russian energy sites and suggested new leadership in Ukraine. Zelensky expressed openness to holding elections if Russia agreed to a two‑month cease‑fire, an offer the Kremlin rejected.
During a recent conversation with Putin, Trump announced a deal allowing Russia to export up to 4.8 million metric tons of diesel to the United States and global markets, a move aimed at easing soaring oil prices ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. He later attributed high fuel costs to the Russia‑Ukraine war rather than other conflicts.
