Trump condemns renewed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries as Brussels talks continue

US President Donald Trump has called Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a "disgrace", sharpening his criticism of Kyiv as the war continues to affect energy markets and diplomacy. He said the attacks were helping push up global energy prices and suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was harder to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comments came as Zelensky was in Brussels seeking support from European allies.

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Trump made the remarks in an interview published on Thursday, saying the conflict should end soon and that both sides would like to see it conclude. He repeated his view that Zelensky was "more difficult to deal with than Putin", a line that adds to the pressure on Kyiv at a sensitive moment. The row centres on renewed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refinery infrastructure, which have become a recurring feature of the wider war.

Zelensky met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels earlier in the day and used the trip to rally European backing against Russia. The live update also said Zelensky asked the United States not to stand with Moscow and called for "honesty" after Kyiv said it had been betrayed by gaps in intelligence-sharing. It further noted suggestions that slowdowns in the Starlink system used for battlefield communications and frontline logistics were linked to Trump and the US military.

The dispute matters because energy infrastructure has become a strategic target in the war, with damage to refineries and related facilities able to affect fuel supplies, export capacity and prices beyond the battlefield. Trump has framed the issue in economic terms, linking the strikes directly to global energy costs. For Kyiv, the attacks are part of a broader effort to hit Russian logistics and revenue, while critics warn they can widen the economic fallout.

The Brussels meetings also underline the diplomatic dimension of the conflict, with Zelensky continuing to seek support from NATO and European leaders while tensions with Washington remain visible. The reference to intelligence-sharing gaps suggests that military cooperation remains a live issue alongside battlefield developments. The mention of Starlink slowdowns adds another layer, given the system's role in communications and logistics for Ukrainian forces.

What remains unclear is whether Trump's comments will affect US policy or the tone of future talks with Kyiv. It is also not clear whether any understanding on limiting attacks on energy infrastructure will hold, given the competing claims from both sides. The next developments to watch are any response from Ukrainian officials, further Russian reaction and whether European leaders can narrow the gap on war aims and energy security.

US President Donald Trump has criticised Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries, calling them a "disgrace" and saying they are pushing up global energy prices. His comments add fresh pressure on Kyiv at a time when the war continues to shape energy markets and diplomatic efforts remain unsettled. Trump also said he found Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky harder to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump made the remarks in an interview with Newsmax, saying the conflict should end soon and suggesting that both sides would like to see it conclude. He said, however, that he believed Zelensky was "more difficult to deal with than Putin". The comments came as Ukraine renewed attacks on Russian refinery infrastructure, a campaign that has become one of the most sensitive parts of the wider war.

The timing of the remarks is notable because Zelensky was in Brussels meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and holding bilateral talks with European leaders before attending an EU summit. The Ukrainian president has argued that the pause in strikes on Russian refineries was over because Moscow was not respecting a ceasefire on attacks against energy infrastructure that had been announced by Trump. That exchange underlines the continuing dispute over whether either side is observing limits on strikes linked to energy assets.

Energy infrastructure has become a central target in the war because damage to refineries and related facilities can affect fuel supplies, export capacity and prices beyond the battlefield. Trump's comments place the issue in a broader economic context, linking the strikes directly to global energy costs. They also highlight the political strain between Washington and Kyiv as European leaders continue to engage with Zelensky on the sidelines of wider transatlantic discussions.

The latest remarks come against the backdrop of repeated attacks on Russian energy facilities and ongoing debate over ceasefire expectations. They also reflect the wider diplomatic challenge of balancing military pressure, energy security and negotiations over the war's future. For Ukraine, strikes on refineries are part of a strategy to hit Russian logistics and revenue; for critics, they risk widening the economic fallout.

What remains unclear is whether Trump's comments will affect US policy or the tone of future talks with Kyiv. It is also not clear whether the reported ceasefire understanding on energy infrastructure will hold, given the competing claims from both sides. The next developments to watch are any response from Ukrainian officials, further Russian reaction, and whether European leaders use the Brussels meetings to narrow the gap on war aims and energy security.

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