President Donald Trump has labeled Ukraine’s resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace,” the latest salvo in his campaign to pressure the U.S.ally over rising gas prices that could cost Republicans in next month’s Midterm elections.Kyiv said Thursday that it would no longer abide by Trump’s “energy ceasefire,” citing Russia’s refusal to halt its own attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy angrily accused the U.S.of costing civilian lives by striking deals with Moscow and withdrawing support that is crucial to Kyiv’s defense against the Kremlin’s invasion.
Ukrainian officials had raised alarm after restrictions on the Starlink satellite service disrupted military operations, and gaps in intelligence sharing left Kyiv vulnerable to Russian attacks.With Ukraine defying his demands to halt strikes, Trump responded late Thursday.“If you tell me that Zelenskyy is again shooting at refineries, all he’s doing is making the world oil price higher,” Trump told Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty.“I think that’s a disgrace.
There’s plenty of other targets; they don’t have to hit,” Trump said.“Zelenskyy is not a good guy for us to deal with” on the war, he said, adding that “I think they actually both would like to see it end, but I think I find Zelenskyy to be more difficult to deal with than (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.”As his clash escalated with Trump, Zelenskyy was in Brussels on Friday to shore up support from European allies, whom he called “real leaders” as they gathered for a crucial summit.Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Brussels on Friday.Geert Vanden Wijngaert / APUkraine hit a Russian oil refinery on Thursday after Zelenskyy said he was “done” with the truce, which Trump had announced to the apparent surprise of both sides in the war.Neither Moscow or Kyiv reported any new strikes on Russian refineries on Friday.
Trump has sought to blame Ukraine’s strikes for destabi...