BRUSSELS, October 17, 2026 — President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Donald Trump’s criticism of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries, asserting that Kyiv must defend its interests amid a deepening rift with Washington.
Zelensky Defends Strikes as Necessary for Survival
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is “only standing up for Ukraine’s interests” after Donald Trump called Kyiv’s new wave of strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace.” Zelensky made the remarks at an EU summit in Brussels, where he emphasized Ukraine’s right to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression. He rejected the idea of accepting a controversial US deal with Moscow to import diesel, warning that a gas agreement could follow if he does not stand up to pressure. Zelensky stated that if he does not resist, “who else will?” His comments came after Trump, in an interview with Newsmax, said Zelensky was “more difficult to deal with than [Russian President Vladimir] Putin” and accused him of making peace efforts more difficult by targeting energy infrastructure.
Trump Criticizes Strategy, Warns of Oil Price Impact
Trump argued that attacks on Russian refineries could push global oil prices higher, stating there are “plenty of other targets” instead. He said he was “not a big fan of Zelensky” and that Zelensky “doesn’t want to settle,” despite claiming he does. Trump maintained that his administration still wants to end the war, even as Zelensky argued Russia has shown no clear willingness to stop fighting. The criticism followed Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire, which Zelensky said Russia violated by carrying out more than 100 attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. White House sources claimed Putin understood the deal as applying only to oil refineries, excluding power plants, which Russia continued to attack. Zelensky accused Moscow of breaking the ceasefire first, while U.S. officials suggested Kyiv had interpreted the agreement too broadly.
Ukraine Faces Massive War Costs and Missile Shortages
Zelensky told the European Council that the war will cost €155bn next year, with at least €70bn needed from the EU for defence and weapons. He said Ukraine could produce up to three times more drones but lacks the funding to do so. A fundamental problem for Kyiv is the chronic lack of US-made Patriot missiles to defend its towns and cities against Russian attacks. Zelensky said he believes Europe possesses all the interceptors Ukraine needs for winter but described them as being acquired in a piecemeal fashion. The funding appeal came as EU leaders rallied around Kyiv during the Brussels summit, offering support amid the fractured US-Ukraine relationship.
Allies Rally as US Tensions Deepen
Zelensky’s trip to Brussels followed a visit to London, arriving at the summit after a bruising week of transatlantic friction. He said it was good to be back among allies, calling them “real leaders” in a possible reference to the US president. Zelensky acknowledged there are “many people with good hearts in America” who want to be allies, not to divide or humiliate Europe. Despite the growing friction, Trump maintained his administration still wants to end the war. Zelensky said Ukraine also seeks peace but stressed that Russia has demonstrated no clear intent to stop fighting. The dispute over the energy ceasefire and diesel deal has deepened mistrust, with Kyiv resuming strikes after three days when Moscow failed to halt its own attacks on energy sites.
Zelensky’s Background and Leadership Style
Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, born on 25 January 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, is a Ukrainian politician and former entertainer who has served as the sixth president of Ukraine since 2019. Before entering politics, he co-founded the production company Kvartal 95, which produced popular films, cartoons, and television shows including the series Servant of the People, in which he played a fictional Ukrainian president. The series aired from 2015 to 2019 and was immensely popular.
Zelenskyy won the 2019 presidential election with 73.23 percent of the vote in the second round, defeating incumbent president Petro Poroshenko in what is described as the biggest landslide in the history of Ukrainian presidential elections. His party also won a landslide victory in the snap parliamentary election held shortly after his inauguration. During his early presidency, he oversaw limited progress in tackling corruption and the ending of legal immunity for members of parliament. He made extensive use of social media and positioned himself as anti-establishment and anti-corruption during his campaign.
The war has been ongoing since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion after a large Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s borders in 2021. During the early peace negotiations, Zelenskyy demanded a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal, implementing the Minsk agreements through the “Steinmeier formula” and seeking dialogue with Russian president Vladimir Putin. When the full-scale invasion began, he remained in the capital Kyiv as it came under attack, declining international offers to evacuate him. He declared martial law across Ukraine and a general mobilisation of the armed forces. There have reportedly been numerous Russian assassination attempts on Zelenskyy since the invasion.
Zelenskyy has been a proponent of e-government and unity between the Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking parts of the country’s population. During his early presidency, he attempted to end the war in Donbas by implementing the Minsk agreements through the “Steinmeier formula” and sought dialogue with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Despite the deepening rift with Washington and criticism from US President Donald Trump, Zelensky maintains that Ukraine has a right to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression. He stated he is only standing up for Ukraine’s interests after Trump called Kyiv’s new wave of strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace.” Zelensky emphasized that if he does not resist pressure regarding controversial US deals with Moscow, “who else will?”
Sources
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Zelensky says Ukraine has right to defend itself after Trump calls latest strikes a 'disgrace'
- Donald Trump Turns on Volodymyr Zelensky as Ukraine’s Energy Ceasefire Unravels – AOL
