Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declined to discuss his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump at a news conference in Brussels.
A Sky News reporter asked Zelensky whether he believes Trump is using him as a scapegoat for his own low approval ratings ahead of the U.S. congressional elections.
Zelensky fell silent for a few seconds, then smiled pointedly. When other reporters in the room started laughing, too, he said, “This is my answer.” He then left the news conference.
Earlier in the news conference, Zelensky said Starlink service in Ukraine has not yet been fully restored and again reported a “significant shortage” of Patriot missiles. He said he had asked the United States for additional interceptors to cover the period during which Ukraine would refrain from striking oil refineries in Russia, but the United States refused.
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has demanded that Ukraine stop striking oil refineries in Russia, claiming the strikes — not the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, caused by the war the United States and Israel started against Iran — are driving up global diesel prices.
Under pressure from Trump, Ukraine agreed not to strike Russian oil refineries on the understanding that Russia should reduce its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. That did not happen, and three days into the pause, Zelensky said Ukraine’s armed forces are resuming their strikes.
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