Trump slams Zelensky over refinery strikes, oil prices | JP
US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the resumption of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, calling the attacks “a disgrace” and claiming Zelensky is more difficult to negotiate with than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If you’re telling me that Zelensky is attacking refineries again, all he’s doing is raising the price of oil around the world,” Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, according to NBC News. “I think it’s a disgrace. There are a lot of other targets.” He argued that hitting refineries that produce diesel does not serve the world’s interests.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Kyiv after the collapse of an energy-sector ceasefire Trump had announced.
The ceasefire that lasted three days
Trump announced the arrangement on October 11, in a move that reportedly caught Ukrainian officials by surprise. Russia, however, continued striking Ukraine’s electrical grid after the announcement, without drawing criticism from Trump.
Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine halted its strikes on Russian refineries for three days before deciding to resume them. “We’re done,” he said, referring to the arrangement. Russian sources later reported that Ukrainian drones hit a refinery in Ryazan Oblast, causing a fire.
Trump is meanwhile working to lower fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3. As part of that effort, he reached a deal to purchase Russian diesel — a move described in the report as a shift from years of American policy. Experts cited in the report, however, dispute his claim that Ukrainian strikes are driving up global fuel prices.
“He says he wants a deal, but he doesn’t”
Trump’s criticism extended beyond the energy strikes. The American president claimed Zelensky is obstructing efforts to end the war.
“He doesn’t want to make a deal. He says he does, but he doesn’t,” Trump said. “I think they both really would like to see this end, but I have a harder time dealing with Zelensky than I do with Putin.”
Trump also said that when a deal is finally reached, “they’re not going to do it with him,” and repeated his demand for elections to be held in Ukraine. Elections have not been held in the country since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, due to martial law.
Kyiv also fears cuts to American aid
Alongside the political dispute, Ukrainian officials have raised concerns about cuts to American operational support. Kyiv warned that restrictions on the Starshield military communications service, based on Starlink, have disrupted operations, and that gaps in intelligence sharing have left Ukrainian forces exposed to Russian attacks.
A senior American official told NBC News that the president has not ordered restrictions on Starlink. Trump himself denied halting intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
On Friday, October 16, Zelensky arrived in Brussels in an effort to shore up European support for his country, calling the leaders he met there “real leaders.” In an interview with Piers Morgan, he expressed disappointment with the American president: “It hurts when President Trump chooses one side, and not our side.”