Ukraine's President Sits With NPR, Pope Leo Cancer, Ambassador Guilfoyle Forced Out

Steve Inskeep (0:02)

Ukraine's president tells NPR about a threat from the White House.

Michel Martin (0:05)

Stop attacking Russian oil refineries, or we will stop sharing intelligence you use to defend yourself. We'll hear more from NPR's Joanna Kikissis' interview with Ukraine's president.

Steve Inskeep (0:14)

I'm Steve Inskeep with Michel Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Pope Leo is recovering from surgery after the Vatican announced he has lung cancer. Doctors removed part of his right lung, and experts say operating first may be a hopeful sign.

Michel Martin (0:32)

And President Trump forced out his ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, after reports that she asked a donor to cover her hefty credit card bill and offered access to administration officials. Democrats say a resignation isn't enough. What does her exit mean for Trump's future appointees? Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day.

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Michel Martin (1:37)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells NPR that the White House has threatened to cut off intelligence sharing with his country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (1:44)

Did we get any messages that it can be stopped if, if, if, yes?

Steve Inskeep (1:49)

Yeah.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (1:50)

Yes, my generals told me that we have such risk.

Steve Inskeep (1:54)

Here's what's happening. President Trump wants Ukraine to stop long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. He blames Ukraine for high fuel costs and he has lifted sanctions on Russian diesel. Zelenskyy says Ukraine has not received intelligence on Russian ballistic missile strikes over the last two nights.

Michel Martin (2:12)

NPR's Ukraine correspondent Joanna Kekesa spoke to President Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Tuesday and is with us now to tell us more about it. Hello.

Joanna Kakissis (2:19)

Hello, Michelle.

Michel Martin (2:20)

So what does Zelenskyy tell you about why intelligence sharing is so important for Ukraine right now?

Joanna Kakissis (2:26)

Well, President Zelenskyy said Russian ballistic missiles are hard for Ukraine's air defense to shoot down, so his military relies on intelligence, both Ukrainian and foreign, for advance warning. We talked about an attack on Monday night. We both heard several big blasts.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2:40)

And we had five ballistic missiles. The direction was Kyiv, Kyiv region. Yes.

They targeted mostly railway. And we didn't get the information.

Joanna Kakissis (2:52)

You did not get the information?

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2:53)

We didn't get the information about ballistic missiles. This is really our weak place.

Joanna Kakissis (3:00)

He said his military was told it was a technical glitch. I asked him if it was the US that was withholding intel. And he did not want to elaborate, saying it was a sensitive matter. But he also said Ukraine has diversified its foreign intelligence sources after early 2025, when the Trump administration had paused sharing information with Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (3:18)

We get from the United States very necessary information, but not only from the United States.

Joanna Kakissis (3:24)

Now, Zelenskyy says every bit of intelligence is important to Ukraine because stopping ballistic missiles is a priority.

Michel Martin (3:30)

And what kind of damage have they caused recently?

Joanna Kakissis (3:34)

Well, Michel, just in the past week or so, missiles have killed dozens of Ukrainians. Zelenskyy said he visited the northern city of Priluki last week, where a missile killed more than 20 people in one apartment building. And he told me about this little girl wounded in the attack. Her dad was killed, and she didn't know about it. As Zelenskyy visited the girl in the hospital, he recalled hugging her.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (3:56)

I said, can I do something for you? Yeah, bring back my father, because she was waiting.

Joanna Kakissis (4:03)

She was waiting for her dad?

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (4:04)

Yeah. And you can't tell her, she doesn't know that he was killed. And you can't lie. And it's very difficult for me, because I always know what to answer.

And I couldn't find the answer to this small girl.

Joanna Kakissis (4:21)