Trump calls Ukraine's resumed energy strikes a 'disgrace' amid Russian attacks

U.S. President Donald Trump has labeled Ukraine’s decision to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries a "disgrace," marking a sharp escalation in tensions between Washington and Kyiv. The criticism came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would no longer abide by a brief "energy ceasefire" proposed by Trump, citing Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukrainian energy sites.

Trump’s Criticism and Oil Prices

Trump made the remarks on Thursday evening, telling Newsmax that Ukraine’s actions were driving up global oil prices. "All he’s doing is making the world oil price higher. Well, I think that’s a disgrace," Trump said. He added that he was "not a big fan of Zelenskyy" and described the Ukrainian leader as "more difficult to deal with than Putin."

According to NBC News, Trump stated, "If you tell me that Zelenskyy is again shooting at refineries, all he’s doing is making the world oil price higher... There’s plenty of other targets; they don’t have to hit." Trump also argued that striking diesel refineries was not "doing a good service for the world," noting that diesel is needed globally.

Ukraine Ends Truce Amid Continued Russian Attacks

Ukraine had paused strikes on Russian energy infrastructure following Trump’s announcement of an "energy ceasefire" last Sunday. However, Russian forces continued to hit Ukrainian energy sites during the pause. On Thursday, regional Governor Pavel Malkov reported that a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region was struck in a large Ukrainian drone attack, the first reported strike on Russian energy infrastructure since the ceasefire announcement.

Zelenskyy accused the U.S. of costing civilian lives by striking deals with Moscow and withdrawing support crucial to Kyiv’s defense. Ukrainian officials raised alarm over restrictions on Starlink satellite services, which disrupted military operations, and gaps in intelligence sharing. Kyiv stated that Starshield, the military version of the technology, had been limited without warning, though it said the service was being restored.

European Support and Civilian Casualties

Zelenskyy attended a summit of European leaders in Brussels on Friday, thanking the 27-nation bloc for its support from what he called "real leaders." "We want to end this war as (quickly) as possible," Zelenskyy told reporters. "We don’t see now signals from (the) Russian side that they are ready for this, to end this war. That’s why we have to prepare for the winter."

The United Nations human rights office in Kyiv reported that at least 328 civilians were killed and 2,105 wounded in September, a total 85 percent higher than in September last year. Danielle Bell, head of the U.N. office, said, "The first two weeks of October were among the deadliest periods for civilians in years."

Why it matters

The public spat between Trump and Zelenskyy raises concerns about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump’s recent deal to buy diesel from Russia and his criticism of Zelenskyy have alarmed European allies, who are working to persuade Washington to maintain pressure on Moscow. The Kremlin agreed with Trump’s assessment, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating it was clear that "Zelenskyy doesn’t want to take responsibility and move toward a peaceful resolution."

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Sources

• ctvnews.ca: Ukraine news: Russia strikes 9 regions, Trump tensions grow
• politico.eu: Trump slams Ukraine’s decision to resume energy strikes as a ‘disgrace’ – POLITICO
• nbcnews.com: Trump: Ukraine resuming strikes on Russian oil sites is a ‘disgrace’

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.