US President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace” and accused Kyiv of driving up global energy prices, even as Moscow continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“Well, I think that’s a disgrace,” Trump told Newsmax in an interview published Thursday, Oct. 15, when asked about Ukraine’s decision to resume attacks on Russian refineries.
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However, energy analysts say Trump’s deal to resume Russian diesel exports is unlikely to significantly lower fuel prices, as the main driver of the global price surge has been the US–Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also renewed his criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky, portraying him as a greater obstacle to ending Russia’s war than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It should end soon. I think they actually both would like to see it end,” Trump said.
“But I think I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin.”
His remarks came after Zelensky announced that Ukraine would no longer observe a pause in strikes against Russian refineries, citing Moscow’s continued attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities despite a ceasefire announced by Trump.
“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelensky told the Financial Times in an interview published Thursday.
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Kyiv had temporarily suspended refinery attacks following Washington’s request, but Russian forces continued launching missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity.
On Thursday, Ukraine struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, triggering a fire at the facility approximately 300 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
The dispute has deepened tensions between Kyiv and Washington following Trump’s agreement with Putin to ease restrictions on Russian diesel, a move Zelensky has criticized for providing economic relief to Moscow while it continues its invasion.
In Thursday, Zelensky met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels and held talks with European leaders ahead of Friday’s EU summit, seeking continued military and political support for Ukraine.
Zelensky has argued that stopping attacks on Russian refineries must be matched by an end to Moscow’s strikes on Ukraine’s electricity grid, rather than a one-sided restriction on Kyiv’s ability to fight back.
“Don’t attack us. Don’t kill our children. We will stop attack your diesel,” Zelensky said in an Oct. 11 interview with ABC News, outlining Ukraine’s position on a reciprocal energy ceasefire.
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