Zelensky tells NBC 'thankful' US has unblocked intel sharing

WASHINGTON:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "thankful" that the United States has resumed intelligence sharing after a pause had left his country more vulnerable to Russian missile strikes.

"It was blocked for some period of time. And then it was deblocked by the American side. We are very thankful for this. Now it works," Zelensky told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview published on Sunday.

"Only (the) United States has this unique intelligence to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles. And we didn't get it during ballistic attacks during three days," Zelensky added.

In the past week, Kyiv also reported restrictions to satellite services operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, which Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications, shortly after US President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine and urged it to stop targeting Russian oil refineries.

Zelensky said he believed "it was a message from American government to limit the speed. And technically, SpaceX did it."

The Trump administration has denied it was behind any slowdown, and Zelensky's remark drew a quick rebuke from a top US official.