Zelenskyy praises Europe's 'real leaders' as Trump tensions loom

Key Points:

• Ukraine is preparing for a challenging winter as Russian attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure intensify, partly due to U.S. restrictions on military use of Starlink, according to Serhiy Derkach, Ukraine's deputy minister for recovery, infrastructure, and transport.
• Russian forces have increased strikes on key transport links, including bridges in Kyiv and railway networks, aiming to isolate residents and disrupt logistics, causing prolonged blackouts of 4-12 hours daily.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking enhanced support from European leaders, including energy aid, air defenses, and funding, while expressing gratitude for the EU's consistent backing amid tensions with the U.S. over Starlink restrictions and public criticism of President Trump.
• Zelenskyy faces pressure from EU officials to moderate his public criticism of Trump to maintain strong Western support, especially as Russia shows no clear signs of readiness to end the conflict despite a proposed "energy ceasefire."
• The so-called energy ceasefire, announced by Trump to halt attacks on power infrastructure ahead of U.S. elections, has been partially observed by Ukraine but not confirmed by Russia, which continues to deny formal agreement while negotiations remain ongoing.