Relations between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky have deteriorated to their lowest point since their public confrontation at the White House in February 2025, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The latest escalation came on October 10, when Trump accused Zelensky of repeatedly rejecting opportunities to negotiate an end to the conflict. Speaking to reporters, the American president also declared that Ukraine needed a new leader.

WSJ journalists described Trump’s renewed criticism as the most serious rupture between the two politicians since their heated exchange in the Oval Office shortly after his return to the presidency in 2025.

The newspaper warned that Washington’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric could undermine 18 months of diplomatic efforts by European leaders. During that period, they had worked to persuade Trump to maintain American support for Kiev while increasing pressure on Moscow.

The tensions were also evident during closed-door negotiations between American and Ukrainian representatives in Miami on October 10.

According to four sources cited by the WSJ, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner repeatedly reminded the Ukrainian delegation of the extensive assistance Washington provides, including access to US intelligence.

At the same time, the American representatives pressed Kiev to halt Ukrainian military strikes against Russian oil refineries.

However, the newspaper’s sources offered conflicting accounts of how far Washington went in applying pressure.

Two participants in the negotiations maintained that US officials never explicitly threatened to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Other sources interpreted the American position differently, arguing that the possibility of cutting off intelligence support had been clearly implied.

Western media had previously reported that Washington was considering suspending intelligence transfers to Kiev if Ukrainian forces continued attacking Russian oil-processing facilities.

American officials, however, denied that any such ultimatum had been issued.