WASHINGTON, March 10 – A Democratic U.S. senator who recently visited Ukraine criticized the Trump administration on Monday for suspending intelligence-sharing, arguing that the decision weakened Kyiv's defenses against Russia. He also dismissed Trump advisor Elon Musk's accusation that he was a "traitor."
"One hundred percent," Senator Mark Kelly told reporters when asked if Ukrainian officials had mentioned specific attacks or incidents that could have been impacted by the lack of intelligence. "If there's information they don’t get but need, it affects their ability to defend against attacks. And those attacks happened on Friday night and Saturday, while I was there."
The Arizona senator, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, did not provide further details.
Since Thursday, Ukrainian authorities have reported multiple Russian attacks, including strikes on energy and gas infrastructure. A missile and drone assault left at least 14 people dead and 37 wounded, and further airstrikes targeted Kyiv overnight Monday, officials said. Kelly was in Ukraine from Saturday to Sunday to show support and assess the situation firsthand.
Last week, the Trump administration announced it was halting intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, increasing pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in peace talks with Russia. The move followed a suspension of U.S. military aid after a tense White House meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a former Senate opponent of Ukraine aid, clashed publicly with Zelenskyy.
On Monday, Zelenskyy traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of key discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. officials that Washington hopes will advance efforts to end the war.
Support for Ukraine, once a bipartisan issue, has become increasingly partisan since Trump’s second term began on January 20. While Democrats remain firmly behind Kyiv, Republican support has wavered. House Speaker Mike Johnson recently stated there was "no appetite" for another bill funding aid to Ukraine.
Highlighting the growing political divide, Musk called Kelly a "traitor" on X.com, the social media platform he owns, after Kelly criticized Trump’s handling of Ukraine.
Kelly, a former astronaut and Navy combat pilot, dismissed Musk’s remarks when asked by reporters. "Obviously, he’s not a serious guy," he said.
On X, Kelly responded to Musk directly: "Traitor? Elon, if you don’t understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do."
Kelly’s visit marked his third trip to Ukraine since 2023.
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