Trump calls Ukraine’s resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries a ‘disgrace’

Donald Trump has labeled Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace,” while intensifying his criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy following an energy ceasefire that crumbled between Russia and Ukraine.
The capital resumed missile and drone campaigns against Russian petroleum facilities after Zelenskyy asserted that Kyiv was discarding a ceasefire recently brokered by Washington that neither side officially verified.
"All he’s doing is raising global oil prices. That, in my view, is a disgrace," Trump stated to Newsmax in an interview broadcast Tuesday.
He continued, “There are countless targets available, yet whenever you target diesel refineries where the world relies heavily on diesel oil—including the production of such fuels—the strategy serves little global benefit.”
Since last week, ties between Kyiv and Washington have sourer, during which Trump relaxed sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing massive diesel supplies onto worldwide markets.
Zelenskyy criticized that arrangement as an effort to blunt fuel costs before the United States’ midterm elections and warned it would spur Russia towards continuing its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine—which began more than four and a half years ago. U.S. attempts under Trump to achieve a settlement have produced no tangible advance.
Later, Trump addressed Newsmax regarding the competing interests of the belligerent leaders. “I am not a strong supporter of Zelenskyy,” he observed. “Both appear eager to bring the war to an end, but I find managing Zelenskyy far more challenging than dealing with Vladimir Putin.”
Kyiv’s diplomatic climate worsened when the Ukrainian government announced that Starlink terminals had been curtailed—a move that crippled Ukrainian drone strikes and compromised vital air‑defence capabilities with a simple button change.
While visiting London this week, President Zelensky expressed deep personal grievance over the Starlink downgrade, describing the action as a betrayal by Trump and lamenting the erosion of a longstanding partnership.
Britain’s Defence Secretary Wes Streeting reported to the BBC that his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, had explicitly reassured him in person that the indispensable satellite communications network had been restored. He noted the unknown source of the disruption while observing that such confrontations between Washington and Kiev are recurring rather than unprecedented events.
European political leaders have stood firm in their backing for Kyiv. After meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels and conductuting a series of bilateral summits, President Zelensky pledged unequivocally.
“It is crucial that Ukraine receives all the means necessary to protect itself.”
French President Emmanuel Macron inspected your message: “I want to assure dear Ukrainian friends and President Zelenskyy: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.”
During his encounter with Macron, Zelensky highlighted that the Kremlin “has launched yet another vile drone strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure,” an attack on the Luhansk region that plunged parts of the front into darkness.
Meanwhile, Moscow responded by accusing Kiev of derailing American appeasement efforts—specifically by restarting attacks on refineries—thereby undermining ongoing diplomatic avenues.
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