Democratic Congresswoman Madeleine Dean accused US President Donald Trump of acting as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “puppet,” calling his administration’s treatment of Ukraine “historically dishonorable” after President Volodymyr Zelensky briefed a bipartisan group of American lawmakers on delayed weapons deliveries and disruptions to crucial battlefield intelligence.
Speaking in an interview with MS NOW’s Peter Alexander on Monday, Oct. 19, shortly after participating in the call with Zelensky, Dean said the Ukrainian president had described mounting difficulties defending his country against Russian attacks despite Ukrainian forces making battlefield gains.
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“I find it historically dishonorable that this administration has engaged in a series of consequences that really support Putin and harm Ukraine,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said.
Dean pointed to Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russia, a controversial Russian diesel supply agreement, restrictions affecting US-supported satellite communications, and delays in delivering weapons already paid for by European allies.
Dean rejected the prospect of Trump, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing Ukraine’s future without Kyiv’s participation.
“We need real diplomats,” Dean said. “This war should have been ended long ago if the US played the indispensable nation that it should be.”
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Zelensky has also met with the team of Lockheed Martin, an American defense company, hoping to secure more Patriot interceptors that Ukraine reportedly ran out of days earlier.
“But instead, we have found that our president, and this is sad, he has been a puppet of Putin.”
$400 Million in Weapons Held Up, Dean Says
Dean said Zelensky had informed lawmakers that approximately $400 million worth of weapons intended for Ukraine had not been released because US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had yet to authorize their delivery.
She said Kyiv had repeatedly contacted the Trump administration, including Hegseth, seeking approval but received no response.
“$400 million – this is what President Zelensky said – in weapons not coming and not released, Mr. Hegseth failing to sign for their release,” Dean said.
The congresswoman also raised concerns about restrictions affecting Starlink and Starshield, the satellite communications services developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
According to Dean, a significant part of the congressional conversation focused on the consequences of reduced satellite capabilities and interruptions in early warnings of Russian missile attacks.
The congresswoman warned that the disruptions had deadly consequences, undermining Ukraine’s ability to detect incoming Russian strikes and protect civilians.
The Trump administration has denied deliberately restricting intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.
‘Is It Just to Force Ukraine to the Table?’
Dean said lawmakers had directly questioned whether the administration’s actions were intended to force Zelensky into accepting a peace agreement favorable to Moscow.
“Is it just to force Ukraine to a table, that they will lose so much that they will continue to suffer bloodshed and no warnings of attacks as we hit another difficult winter?” she asked, recalling the discussion.
“Is it just to push him to a table and to accede to whatever Mr. Putin wants?”
According to Dean, Zelensky did not claim to know Trump’s intentions.
“Mr. Zelensky was honest. He said, I don’t really know the motivation of the president, of our president,” she recalled.
Dean, however, offered her own assessment.
“I find it historically dishonorable that the president has turned and showed his cards, that he supports Mr. Putin in this effort, the one who is bloodthirsty and has cost tens of thousands of lives.”
Her remarks came as Trump defended his recent Russian diesel agreement and again criticized Zelensky, saying it was time for “somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.”
‘Nothing About Ukraine Without Ukraine’
Dean also strongly rejected reports that Trump, Putin and Xi could meet in China next month to discuss a settlement to Russia’s war against Ukraine without Kyiv’s participation.
“Absurd,” she responded when asked about the proposal, which the interviewer compared to a new Yalta summit.
“It did come up on the call, of course, and of course the refrain is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” she said.
Dean questioned the prospect of the leaders of the US, Russia and China deciding Ukraine’s future without its elected government.
“That Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin and our administration would decide the fate of the democracy, the young democracy, the courageous people of Ukraine and their sovereignty? Insane.”
The remarks followed reports that Putin was seeking a three-way meeting with Trump and Xi during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned Monday that such a meeting would “only encourage Putin to continue this war.”
Bipartisan Lawmakers Alarmed Over Ukraine Policy
Dean emphasized that Monday’s meeting with Zelensky included Republicans and Democrats from both chambers of Congress, including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Thom Tillis and Representative Gregory Meeks.
She said the lawmakers who participated were strongly supportive of Ukraine and understood the consequences of reduced American assistance.
“My hope is that the Republicans, particularly members of the Senate, who are close with this president, will offer their outrage, and more importantly, their demand that we support Ukraine,” she said.
Dean also called on Republicans to insist that Ukraine be included in any negotiations concerning an end to the war.
In a joint statement following the meeting, Blumenthal and Tillis confirmed that Zelensky had raised concerns about degraded satellite services, interruptions in early-warning intelligence and delays in critical air defense interceptors.
“Funding Russia’s war machine, disabling Ukraine’s satellite communications, and crippling its air defense are all impediments to peace,” the senators said.
They warned that efforts to appease Putin would prolong the war and increase casualties, reaffirming bipartisan congressional support for Ukraine.
Separately, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen accused the administration of providing Moscow with a financial lifeline through the Russian diesel agreement and sanctions relief.
Dean’s comments came as Russia continued attacking Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. On Monday, a Russian drone struck a public park in the Kharkiv region, killing six civilians, including two children.