Rubio made the statement on Monday, October 19, 2026, while visiting Uzbekistan for talks with Central Asian leaders. He insisted that intelligence cooperation had not been paused and urged Ukraine and Russia to concentrate on finding a way to end the war.

Zelensky had said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that the United States had temporarily blocked intelligence support used to warn Ukraine about incoming Russian ballistic missile attacks. He said the assistance was subsequently restored and expressed gratitude for its resumption.

The Ukrainian president explained that the intelligence was particularly important for warning his country when Russia launched ballistic missiles. His account followed reports of Russian attacks in which Ukrainian officials said they had not received their usual advance warnings.

Rubio disputed Zelensky’s description of events, saying there had been no interruption in intelligence sharing. He argued that ending the war should remain the priority for both Kyiv and Moscow, reflecting President Donald Trump’s stated goal of securing a negotiated settlement.

The disagreement comes amid growing friction between Washington and Kyiv over how to bring the conflict to an end. Trump has recently criticised Zelensky, accusing him of showing insufficient commitment to negotiations and questioning whether he genuinely wants the war to end.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump claimed his administration was making progress towards peace but accused the Ukrainian leader of being unwilling to end the conflict. He also criticised Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that they were contributing to pressure on international diesel markets, including in the United States.

Trump has defended easing certain restrictions affecting Russian fuel exports as part of his efforts to address energy-market pressures and pursue negotiations. The approach has drawn criticism from Ukraine and some US lawmakers, who argue that measures benefiting Russian energy exports could undermine pressure on Moscow over its invasion.

The intelligence dispute is part of a wider strain in US-Ukraine relations, with Kyiv also raising concerns about access to satellite communications services used by its forces. US officials have denied that the Trump administration directed the reported restrictions.

Despite the conflicting accounts, Washington has publicly maintained that it wants the war to end through negotiations. However, the latest disagreement highlights the uncertainty surrounding the level and continuity of US support as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.

Reporting by TalkNaija Media