Trump Condemns Ukrainian Refinery Strikes as Tensions Strain Washington and Kyiv Relations
US President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s renewed drone strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace” on Thursday, accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of driving up global fuel prices and proving more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The stark condemnation follows the sudden collapse of a short-lived energy ceasefire brokered by Washington. Kyiv resumed targeting Russian energy infrastructure after Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine was abandoning the agreement, which neither warring nation had officially signed. The diplomatic friction intensified sharply this week when White House-ordered restrictions on satellite communications hobbled Ukrainian battlefield operations and drone missions.
Washington Orders Starshield Restrictions and Defends Diesel Deal with Moscow
US officials confirmed that the White House ordered a slowdown of access to Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starshield satellite system, cutting off critical communications for Ukrainian forces. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting stated on Thursday that US counterpart Pete Hegseth assured him the vital system had since been restored following a face-to-face meeting in London. The satellite disruption coincided with a controversial US sanctions relief deal that allowed Moscow to release large amounts of diesel onto global markets ahead of the US midterm elections. Zelenskyy slammed the agreement, telling the Financial Times during a visit to London that the restriction of satellite services left him feeling personally betrayed by President Trump.
President Trump defended his approach during an interview with the Newsmax news outlet, declaring that Ukrainian strikes on diesel processing facilities actively harm global economic stability. “All he’s doing is making the world oil price higher. Well, I think that’s a disgrace,” President Trump said. He added that while he believes both leaders want the conflict to end, he finds Zelenskyy significantly harder to negotiate with than President Putin.
European Allies Reaffirm Support as Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy Grids
Amid the deteriorating diplomatic ties between Washington and Kyiv, European leaders moved quickly to demonstrate solidarity with Zelenskyy during a European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that it remained crucial to supply Ukraine with all necessary self-defense means, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted an online reassurance stating that Ukraine is not alone. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa reiterated that the bloc will maintain all existing sanctions against Russia until the war stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ukraine resume strikes on Russian oil refineries?
Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv was abandoning the energy ceasefire after a three-day pause because Russia continued to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Who ordered the restriction of satellite services for Ukraine?
Two US officials and a western official confirmed that the order to slow down the SpaceX satellite system used by Ukrainian troops originated directly from inside the White House.
What was the outcome of the European Union meetings in Brussels?
European leaders including President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy to reaffirm military and financial backing, while EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa confirmed that sanctions against Russia will remain fully in place.
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