Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has defended his wartime strategy, stating he is only standing up for his nation’s core interests after facing sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Trump recently claimed Zelensky was more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin and labeled Kyiv’s renewed drone strikes against Russian oil refineries as a disgrace. The US leader expressed frustration because these strikes interfere with Moscow’s ability to export diesel to America under a newly brokered energy agreement aimed at lowering domestic fuel prices ahead of upcoming mid-term elections. All he’s doing is making the world oil price higher. The Trump administration had previously warned that it could withhold intelligence-sharing – crucial for Ukraine’s defences – if Kyiv does not stop hitting Russia’s oil refineries.
Addressing reporters at an EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky explained that he could not accept the diesel agreement due to concerns it might pave the way for a broader gas deal. Flanked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, Zelensky questioned who would stand against such measures if he did not.
Von der Leyen voiced strong European backing for Kyiv, noting that Russia had failed to respect the energy ceasefire for even a single minute while continuing its assaults. She emphasized that European sanctions against Moscow must increase and outlined an upcoming winter support package focused on energy infrastructure, defense funding, and humanitarian aid. The summit’s agenda focused on funding for Ukraine and helping it get through another cold winter – the fifth since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia is trying everything to destroy the energy and water infrastructure,” Von der Leyen told Zelensky, “but we stand by your side, we support you as we did in the other winters. According to zelensky, His country wanted the war to end “as quick as possible” but added that Russia was not showing signs that it wanted the same thing. As you know, Putin hates Zelensky, and Zelensky hates Putin,” he added. “And when you have that kind of hatred, it’s very hard to get something settled. There are a lot of targets that you can hit.
The diplomatic friction between Washington and Kyiv has intensified following the energy dispute and recent curbs placed on the Starlink internet network, which remains vital for Ukrainian military communications. Zelensky described the sudden slowdown in internet speeds as a dangerous and unpleasant surprise, noting that connectivity had not yet been fully restored following deadly overnight strikes. With several people killed in a Russian drone strike in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, while some 270,000 households were without power after strikes in the western Volyn region, the local governors said, deadly attacks on Ukraine continued overnight. When restrictions were placed on the US-owned Starlink internet network, which is critical for Kyiv’s military abilities to defend itself, his anger was further heightened earlier this week. When the communications network was restricted, there were several deadly Russian strikes on Ukraine, with residents and the government saying there was no prior warning of the incoming attack, on Tuesday night.
During an interview with Newsmax, Trump stated he was not a big fan of the Ukrainian leader and accused him of not genuinely wanting to settle the conflict. The Kremlin subsequently stated it agreed with Trump’s assessment regarding peace negotiations. During an interview with US outlet Newsmax on Thursday evening, reflect the deteriorating relationship between the US and Ukraine, trump’s comments about Zelensky.
Despite the growing tensions, Zelensky expressed hope that US and Ukrainian negotiators would soon arrange a meeting at some level. A subsequent news conference concluded with a notable 15-second pause after a reporter asked if Trump was utilizing him as a political scapegoat, prompting Zelensky to smile broadly and remark that his silence served as his response. When Zelensky was asked by Sky news if he felt Trump was using him as a scapegoat for his own political problems, a news conference after the EU summit ended on a telling 15 seconds of silence. After a long silence, Zelensky broke out into a grin, prompting laughter from the journalists in the room. “This is my answer,” he said.
