Is Ukraine being shut out of its own future? | The Global Story
BBC News · Published on October 21, 2026
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Can Ukraine still rely on America? More than 80 years after the Yalta conference reshaped post-war Europe, some observers fear a new era of great-power diplomacy could once again shape the continent's future. Reports of a possible meeting between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have prompted questions about what role Ukraine would play in any discussion about ending the war. The speculation comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Kyiv. From disputes over Starlink access to growing concerns about Trump's outreach to Moscow, Ukrainian officials worry they are losing influence with their most powerful ally. At the centre of the debate is a simple question: does Trump see Ukraine as an indispensable partner, or an obstacle to broader deals with Russia? The Global Story’s Tristan Redman speaks to Simon Shuster of The Atlantic about the state of the war, the future of US support and why Kyiv is increasingly worried about being left out of the room. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #Ukraine #Trump #Putin 00:00 Intro 00:29 Could a Trump-Putin summit become a new Yalta? 01:05 Why Ukraine fears a deal between great powers 02:14 Is Trump already appeasing Russia? 03:00 What is behind the latest diplomatic push? 04:39 The growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv 05:34 Why the US wants business deals with Russia 07:42 The deals Trump hopes to strike with Putin 08:51 Why Trump is blaming Ukraine 09:55 Russia’s strategy on the battlefield 12:19 How Russia is trying to break Ukraine’s will 13:06 How crucial is US support for Ukraine? 13:39 What is Starlink and why does Ukraine rely on it? 14:58 Did the US restrict Ukraine’s access to Starlink? 15:52 How SpaceX can disrupt Ukraine’s drone operations 17:23 What the Starlink disruption means for Ukraine 17:56 Who ordered the Starlink restrictions? 19:16 Why US intelligence sharing matters 20:35 Is the US-Ukraine relationship at a new low? 21:42 What does the American public think about Ukraine? 22:03 Trump’s diesel deal and the midterm elections 23:14 Does attacking Zelensky appeal to Trump’s base?