Trump Calls Ukraine’s Renewed Attacks on Russian Oil Refineries a ‘Disgrace’
United States President Donald Trump has condemned Ukraine’s renewed attacks on Russian oil refineries, describing the strikes as a disgrace and blaming Zelenskyy for rising global oil prices.
His comments followed the collapse of an energy ceasefire he announced last week, which neither Russia nor Ukraine had publicly agreed to observe.
Ukraine resumed its attacks on Russian oil refineries after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv would no longer observe the proposed ceasefire.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmax broadcast on Thursday, Trump argued that targeting Russian refineries could increase global oil prices and disrupt essential fuel supplies.
“There are a lot of targets you can hit,” Trump said, questioning Ukraine’s decision to attack facilities producing diesel needed by countries around the world.
The American president’s criticism has further strained relations between Washington and Kyiv, which disagree over how best to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Tensions increased last week after Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing substantial quantities of diesel into international markets.
The arrangement was widely interpreted as an attempt to reduce fuel prices ahead of American midterm elections, but Zelenskyy strongly criticised the decision.
The Ukrainian president warned that relaxing restrictions on Moscow could help Russia sustain its invasion, which began with a full-scale assault in February 2022.
Despite repeated diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration, negotiations have yet to produce a lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
During his Newsmax interview, Trump compared his dealings with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he found the Ukrainian leader more difficult to negotiate with.
“I’m not a big fan of Zelenskyy,” Trump said, adding that he believed both leaders wanted the conflict to end.
Relations between Washington and Kyiv faced another setback this week after Ukraine reported restrictions affecting its use of Starlink satellite communications services.
The system supports Ukrainian military operations, including drone missions and air defence coordination, raising concerns about the consequences of any disruption to its services.
During a visit to London, Zelenskyy said the sudden restriction had left him feeling personally betrayed by Trump and disappointed over losing a partner.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, had assured him during a face-to-face meeting that Starlink services had been restored.
Speaking to the BBC, Streeting said the cause of the disruption remained unclear, adding that disagreements between Washington and Kyiv were not unprecedented.
Meanwhile, European leaders have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine as concerns grow over the long-term commitment of the United States to Kyiv’s defence.
Zelenskyy met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels and held discussions with European leaders ahead of an European Union summit scheduled for Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of providing Ukraine with the resources necessary to protect itself against continued Russian attacks.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed solidarity with Kyiv, assuring Ukrainians that they were not alone as the conflict continued.
Amid the diplomatic tensions, Zelenskyy accused Russia of launching another drone attack against Ukrainian energy infrastructure in Lutsk, causing power outages.
The Kremlin, however, accused Ukraine of undermining American peace efforts by renewing its attacks on Russian oil refineries.
The latest developments expose growing divisions over ending the war, as Washington criticises Ukraine’s military strategy while European leaders continue supporting Kyiv’s right to defend itself.
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