Ukraine's Arms Funding and Zelensky's Remark Anger Ally

In Ukraine on 12 August 2026, Zelensky said Ukraine had given US negotiators proposals for ending the war with Russia. In an interview with CNN in Kyiv, he also spoke about the recent surge of Russian ballistic attacks and said that if the US sold Ukraine 10% of its Patriots, Ukraine would destroy all of Russia’s ballistic missiles.

According to a newspaper account cited by TASS, JD Vance personally asked Kyiv to stop strikes on CPC oil infrastructure near Novorossiysk, and Kyiv Post said Ukraine was targeting Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Politico said Zelensky fumbled a trip to Belgrade because of remarks about Kosovo, and Lenta.ru reported he angered a US ally with one phrase.