Tensions between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky show no sign of easing. The U.S. president once again lashed out at his Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday after Zelensky announced the resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries — while making no mention of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
“I think it’s a shame,” the American president told the conservative network Newsmax when asked about Ukraine’s renewed targeting of Russian energy infrastructure earlier that day. “There are a lot of other targets” available, he added.
Zelensky Defies Trump’s Energy Truce Proposal
Zelensky told the Financial Times on Thursday that the pause on Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries had been “lifted,” defying Trump’s announced energy truce — which Moscow had never agreed to. Russia also struck power plants in Ukraine earlier this week, leaving 600,000 people without electricity in Kyiv.
“Everything Zelensky does is drive up global oil prices,” Trump attacked, as Kyiv expressed concern about the durability of American support — or even the possibility of U.S. aid shifting toward Russia. “When you hit diesel refineries… you’re not doing the world a favor,” Trump insisted.
No Criticism for Putin
Trump used the same interview to once again place full responsibility on Zelensky for the impossibility of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, while omitting any criticism of Vladimir Putin.
“I think it’s harder to work with Zelensky than with Putin,” he declared.
“Zelensky is not the right type for us to make a deal with,” the American president further denounced on Newsmax. “They’ll end up with a deal one way or another, but they won’t do it with him. [Zelensky] says he wants to find a deal, but he doesn’t want to. I don’t like him too much. They’ve destroyed that country,” he continued.
Trump even chose to blame Barack Obama for Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 — where “it all really started” — rather than direct any reproach toward Russia, with whom he announced last week the signing of a highly controversial agreement to purchase hundreds of thousands of liters of diesel fuel.
“As you know, Putin hates Zelensky, and Zelensky hates Putin. And when there’s such hatred, it’s very difficult to reach a deal,” Trump summarized — with a clear idea of whom he would prefer to see replaced.
“I think elections need to be organized, because nobody is telling me that Ukrainians are satisfied watching missiles rain down on their apartment buildings,” he stated — without being able to mention where those strikes originate.
France Reaffirms Support for Ukraine
In the face of Donald Trump’s attacks, France has reaffirmed its support for Volodymyr Zelensky, signaling continued European backing for Kyiv amid growing uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
