Zelensky feels 'betrayed' by Trump

Pete Ross (0:00)

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Pete Ross, and in the early hours of Thursday, the 15th of October, these are our main stories. Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Donald Trump of not being on the right side of history over recent events in the war in Ukraine. Elon Musk suggests the US government may be behind Kiev's impaired access to the Starlink internet network, affecting Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attacks. And after more than a decade of waiting, a new bridge between China and North Korea has finally opened.

Also in this podcast, violent protests in the Albanian capital for a second night amid calls for the Prime Minister to resign.

Federico Veronese (0:44)

And I felt almost like violating the privacy and the intimacy of this moment and of this elephant.

Pete Ross (0:51)

A photograph of an elephant carrying a dead calf wins a prestigious prize.

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Donald Trump of not acting on the right side of history. Speaking in a TV interview, the Ukrainian president said an apparent decision to curb access to Elon Musk's satellite communication system was a boon to Russia.

On Monday and Tuesday, Russian drones hit targets in the capital Kiev without Ukraine being able to issue warnings to residents, leading to civilian deaths. The Ukrainian leader said it was clear that Elon Musk's satellite system, Starlink, had been, as he put it, altered in the dead of night. Mr Zelensky also said it was painful when President Trump chose one side, not our side, as he put it. He was in the UK on Wednesday meeting the Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who announced Britain would speed up delivery to Ukraine of lightweight multi-role missiles used to bring down Russian drones. Our correspondent Joe Inwood was following events.

Joe Inwood (1:52)

Sometimes, in diplomacy, actions speak louder than words. A guard of honor in Downing Street for Ukraine's president, the message clear. Volodymyr Zelensky is amongst friends.

It's in stark contrast to the message that's been coming from Washington for the past week, with a US deal to buy Russian diesel and calls for President Zelensky to quit. That was why, speaking to Piers Morgan, Volodymyr Zelensky said this.

Piers Morgan (2:20)

Do you feel betrayed by what has been happening?

Volodymyr Zelensky (2:22)

Really, yes.

Joe Inwood (2:23)

President Zelensky made it clear that the US has limited intelligence sharing and that a vital communication system, Starlink, has been partly disabled.

Piers Morgan (2:33)

Do you think he has deliberately turned the speed down on Starlink to damage it?

Volodymyr Zelensky (2:38)

I'm sure that they knew what they did. Absolutely, because it was 1 am, so 1 at night, Starlink was blocked.

Joe Inwood (2:48)

Starlink, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, is a vital communication system used right across the Ukrainian military. Now, it uses a vast array of satellites to provide a signal that the Russians can't jam for ground forces on the sea and crucially for drones. Now, last night, suddenly, anything moving at more than 100 miles an hour couldn't connect, and that meant the Ukraine's drones, which are vital for attacking and defending, were badly affected.

A key of apartment block struck in the middle of the night. Emergency services risking their lives. Ordinary people losing theirs.

Victoria Gill (3:28)

We were at home when all of a sudden the windows just blew out.

Peter Mungangi (3:31)

There was a flash of light and that was it. I immediately called my husband.

Victoria Gill (3:35)

He rushed home from work and it turned out there had been an attack.

SPEAKER_8 (3:39)

This is yet another shameful Trump betrayal.

Joe Inwood (3:43)

Now all of this has led to accusations of betrayal, including in the House of Commons today, where the Prime Minister was asked if it was time to stand up to President Trump.

Andy Burnham (3:52)

What I have to do in my role is try and repair bridges so that the support comes back. And therefore, I should at this moment in time be careful in terms of laying the ground to bring people back together. That is the role I intend to play.

Joe Inwood (4:11)

Tonight, Elon Musk, who many have blamed for restricting Starlink, put out a statement saying any decision was not his, but made by the Department of Defense, and ultimately, as so often, by President Trump.

Pete Ross (4:24)

Joe Inwood.

Ukraine's former Defence Minister Mikhailo Fedorov said on Wednesday evening that access to Starlink had been partially restored, but added that the next step should be to work on removing all speed restrictions on its military version, Starshield. For more on Elon Musk's response to all this, I spoke to our Washington correspondent, Ione Wells.