In brief
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, comparing him to Russia’s Vladimir Putin and condemning strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelensky, meanwhile, is in Brussels for a high‑level EU summit, pausing the attacks on oil facilities for three days at Trump’s request, before announcing a resumption. EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, reaffirmed that sanctions remain in place as Russia has not complied with the cease‑fire. The back‑to‑back talks highlight a growing divide between the U.S. and Ukraine over strategy and sanctions, while deadly drone strikes continue to claim lives across Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has renewed his sharp criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him "more difficult to deal with than Putin".
Speaking to US media, Trump also called Ukraine’s fresh wave of strikes on Russian oil refineries a "disgrace".
Zelensky, who paused the attacks for three days at Trump’s request for a cease‑fire on energy targets, told reporters he would resume strikes because Moscow has never respected the truce.
Meanwhile, deadly attacks on Ukraine continued overnight, with several people killed in a Russian drone strike in the north‑eastern city of Kharkiv, regional governor‑reported, and at least 14 injured.
Zelensky remains on the sidelines of the Brussels summit, flanked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
“Of course we supported President Trump’s energy ceasefire but we’ve seen that Russia did not respect it, not a single minute,” von der Leyen told reporters. “Russia escalated and therefore we have to increase sanctions on Russia… We will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war.”
The strained U.S.‑Ukraine relationship is evident as Trump’s comments indicate a deterioration in cooperation, especially over sanctions and energy policy.
