Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking stronger support from European allies as concerns grow over US intelligence-sharing following a Russian ballistic missile strike on a power plant in Kyiv that Ukraine says came without advance warning from its Western partners.
The strike on Tuesday evening has renewed questions about Washington’s commitment to Kyiv at a time when diplomatic tensions between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump are complicating Ukraine’s efforts to secure continued military assistance. Zelenskyy said Ukraine received no early warning before the missile hit the energy facility, despite Trump’s claims that an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine remained in place.
“A Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv. Once again, no early warning from our partners,” Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook. He called the lack of warning unjust, arguing that Ukraine should not be left without critical information while Russian forces continue targeting its infrastructure.
The incident has intensified concerns about whether political disagreements could affect intelligence cooperation between Ukraine and its Western partners, particularly the United States. Ukraine relies heavily on US intelligence to detect incoming Russian attacks and support its military operations. Recent reports suggested that American officials had discussed the possibility of restricting intelligence-sharing during weekend talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Miami. Trump denied that Washington had cut off intelligence support when questioned by reporters.
The latest Russian missile attack on Kyiv comes as the Ukrainian capital, home to around three million people, continues to face drone and missile strikes, with energy infrastructure among the targets. For Ukraine, advance warning of ballistic missile launches can be critical to protecting civilians and responding to incoming attacks.
With uncertainty surrounding US support, Zelenskyy is turning to European allies to reinforce Ukraine’s military and financial position. He is due to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London, where the British government is expected to pledge tighter sanctions against Russia and increased military and financial assistance in the coming weeks, according to Downing Street.
Britain has also promised to accelerate deliveries of Lightweight Multirole Missiles, which can help Ukraine counter aerial threats, including jet-powered Russian drones. The commitments signal a stronger European effort to support Kyiv as relations between the Ukrainian president and the White House remain strained.
However, Zelenskyy is not abandoning efforts to maintain cooperation with Washington. On Tuesday, he said Ukraine had proposed another round of talks with US representatives in the coming days. The proposals were sent to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, he said, adding that Kyiv remained ready to meet.
The diplomatic approach reflects Ukraine’s difficult position. Although European military assistance and financial backing are important, continued engagement with the United States remains a central part of Kyiv’s strategy as it seeks the intelligence, weapons and political support needed to resist Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskyy is also expected to attend the European Council summit in Brussels on Friday, where he plans to meet European leaders and discuss further assistance. The European Commission is preparing new payments under a 90 billion euro support loan for Ukraine this week, according to reporting by Euronews.
European officials and diplomats expect the summit to demonstrate continued support for Kyiv. However, any criticism of Washington’s approach will depend on whether the European Union’s 27 member states can agree on a common position.
The European response is also shaped by disagreements over how to maintain pressure on Russia. A reported US-Russia diesel deal has drawn criticism from European officials who fear that arrangements involving Russian energy could undermine efforts to reduce Moscow’s energy revenues and weaken the economic pressure imposed since the invasion of Ukraine.
“We think the deal is regrettable,” a senior EU official told Euronews, arguing that it conflicts with the strategy European countries have pursued over the past four years to put pressure on Russia and reduce their dependence on Russian energy sources.
The official also stressed that dialogue with Washington should continue despite differences over policy towards Moscow. European governments, the official suggested, must balance their disagreements with the need to maintain cooperation across the Atlantic.
Alongside financial assistance and sanctions, Ukraine urgently needs more air defence missiles to protect its cities and infrastructure. Spain and Greece, both of which hold such weapons in their stockpiles, have so far resisted pressure to supply additional missiles.
Speaking to Euronews at the Warsaw Security Conference, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spain had done as much as it could to assist Ukraine and would continue providing support.
Albares also called for renewed discussions on using frozen Russian state assets to finance a loan for Ukraine. The proposal previously faced opposition, particularly from Belgium, where many of the immobilised assets are held.
The Spanish foreign minister questioned why European taxpayers should bear the cost of supporting Ukraine when Russian state assets remain frozen and could potentially contribute towards reparations after the war. Any renewed proposal would need to address the legal and financial concerns that have prevented European governments from reaching an agreement.
Security concerns are also spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders. Two more vessels were struck by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria’s coast early Tuesday, prompting condemnation from Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
Radev described the attacks as “absolutely unacceptable” and said Russia appeared to have an interest in the incidents. Bulgarian authorities, however, said there was no conclusive evidence identifying the country responsible.
The latest attacks followed several drone incidents off the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts the previous week, including one that proved fatal. The incidents have increased concern about the risks facing civilian shipping and countries bordering the Black Sea as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.
Moldova has also reported repeated drone incursions into its airspace. Vitalie Micov, chief of staff of Moldova’s National Army, told Euronews that a drone enters the country’s skies approximately every two or three days, with some carrying explosives.
Micov said the incursions were affecting public morale and raising wider concerns about safety and security across the region. Moldova borders both Romania and Ukraine, placing it close to the conflict and exposing it to threats that can extend beyond the battlefield.
The European Union is expected to discuss these risks at its summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. Leaders are due to consider measures to strengthen the bloc’s eastern flank and advance projects designed to detect and counter drones. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also expected to push for progress on a proposed framework to address hybrid threats, including activities intended to undermine security without taking the form of conventional military attacks.
The summit comes as Ukraine has made progress in its bid to join the European Union. EU governments have agreed to advance two additional stages of the accession process after Hungary lifted its veto following an agreement concerning the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine.
The breakthrough could also pave the way for a first bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar in Brussels. Such a meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s membership ambitions and the outstanding issues affecting relations between the two countries.
For Zelenskyy, the immediate priority is to secure the weapons, intelligence and financial resources Ukraine needs while maintaining working relationships with both Washington and European capitals. The missile strike on Kyiv has brought the importance of intelligence cooperation into sharper focus, while the drone attacks around the Black Sea are adding urgency to European discussions about regional defence.
