US President Donald Trump intensified criticism of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, characterizing him as more difficult to engage with than Russian President Vladimir Putin during remarks to American media. Trump also called Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace,” citing concerns about global fuel prices and a newly announced US deal to import Russian diesel.
Zelensky, attending an EU summit in Brussels, defended the resumption of strikes on Russian energy targets after a three-day pause that had been made at Trump’s request. The Ukrainian president indicated that Russia had not upheld its end of any ceasefire arrangement, making continued military action necessary. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported Ukraine’s position, stating that Russia had escalated rather than complied with the proposed energy ceasefire and pledging that the EU would not lift sanctions without a Russian withdrawal.
The Brussels summit centered on providing winter assistance to Ukraine, including energy support and military funding as the country faces its fifth winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky expressed a desire to end the conflict quickly but noted that Russia had not demonstrated comparable willingness for settlement. The summit featured multiple meetings between Zelensky and EU leaders from several member states.
Tensions between the Trump administration and Ukraine have escalated in recent days. Beyond Trump’s public criticism, the administration recently restricted access to Starlink communications, which Ukraine relies on for military operations. Additionally, Trump’s administration had previously warned it could withhold crucial intelligence sharing if Ukraine continued targeting Russian refineries.
Meanwhile, attacks on Ukrainian territory persisted overnight, with a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv killing several people and injuring at least 19. Ukraine also continued offensive operations, with Ukrainian drones targeting Russian regions and forcing temporary airspace closures near Moscow.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI