Zelensky accuses US of withholding promised £12 billion aid to Ukraine

Zelensky accuses US of withholding promised £12 billion aid to Ukraine As Ukraine faces another bitter winter of attacks from Russian missiles, it emerges the US has not handed over a promised £12 billion in aid amid a deepening rift between Trump and Zelensky US President Donald Trump’s government has reneged on a badly-needed £12 billion aid package to Ukraine, it was claimed today. The shocking u-turn on the deal was revealed by President Volodymyr Zelensky as he defied Donald Trump's demands to stop Ukraine’s oil industry blitz on Russia. Zelensky says Washington has so far not paid $16 billion (£12 billion). Zelensky said: “Ukraine needs to move toward a new political infrastructure in the US – and it must do so quickly. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. “We need to consolidate the bipartisan support we already have. Given the shift in the balance of power, we must structure our dialogue correctly. We must raise the issue that, out of previous agreements and decisions, $16 billion was withheld and not provided to Ukraine. “We are grateful for everything that has been given, but Ukraine should, at the very least, fight to secure these funds.” Zelensky added that Ukraine has no choice but to keep up the attacks against Russian oil energy targets despite fears it will deepen the growing rift with Trump, who wants to blame Ukraine for diesel price hikes across the US. Today it has emerged Ukraine’s steady degrading of Russia’s oil industry has hit it hard, causing in the region of £18 billion worth of damage, setting back Moscow’s economy sharply. The figure of £18 billion compares with the £22.5 billion worth of Russia’s total takings from its oil industry in 2025. Russia is now believed to be importing oil from abroad, using intricate sanctions-busting smuggling routes. Zelensky has even offered to halt attacks on the Russian oil industry in exchange for one month’s worth of Patriot missiles, needed to defend against Moscow’s ballistic weapons. He said: “Give us this package. We need the package, and you can give us for one month, not for three months. For one month, if you need us not to attack their refineries one month, give me Patriots for one month.” Ukrainian strikes have knocked 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries out of operation, while another 12 have reduced production, Ukraine’s military intelligence has revealed. And Trump’s claim Ukraine is behind diesel price hikes has been revealed to be a lie. Less than two percent of diesel exports come from Russia globally, it is believed, and the price increases are widely blamed on Trump’s war on Iran. Zelenksky said: “Ukraine must fight - let nobody in the US take offence.” Earlier this morning Ukraine is believed to have targeted Afipsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai with drones. Russia said it downed 142 Ukrainian UAVs overnight during the major attack by Kyiv’s troops which launched at 1am local time. It left Krasnodar draped in smoke as blazes broke out at the site of the targeted attacks.