Donald Trump stated on Thursday, October 15, that he is “not a big fan” of Volodymyr Zelensky and called Ukraine’s renewed strikes against Russian oil refineries a “shame” during an interview with Newsmax.
The remarks mark a fresh escalation in tensions between Washington and Kyiv over energy targets and global fuel prices. Trump criticized the Ukrainian strategy directly, arguing that hitting processing facilities undermines global stability.
“All [Volodymyr Zelensky] is doing is driving up the world price of oil. And well, I think that’s a shame,” Trump said during the interview. “There are a lot of targets that you can hit, but when you shoot at refineries where diesel is produced, which we need, and which the world needs, then [Zelensky] is not doing the world a favor.”
Strikes on Rosneft and Energy Ceasefire Disputes
The exchange followed a Ukrainian strike on a Rosneft refinery in Ryazan, located southeast of Moscow. The action came after Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv was abandoning an energy infrastructure ceasefire proposed by Donald Trump, which Kyiv argued Russia had failed to respect.
Over recent weeks, the U.S. president has repeatedly blamed Ukraine for rising diesel prices. Those costs, however, have also been heavily impacted by the war against Iran and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also reiterated his view that Zelensky and Vladimir Putin intensely dislike one another, complicating any path toward a negotiated settlement. “I think in reality they would both like [the war] to stop, but I find it harder to work with Zelensky than with Putin,” he told Newsmax.
Tensions Over Alleged Affinities and Diplomatic Fallout
The sharp rhetoric follows previous friction between the two leaders, notably a tense exchange at the White House in February 2025, though relations had appeared to stabilize in the months that followed.
In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Volodymyr Zelensky stated he felt “betrayed” by recent announcements from Donald Trump regarding the purchase of Russian diesel. Zelensky further criticized his counterpart in the Financial Times regarding Washington’s diplomatic posture toward autocrats.
“He says openly and loud and clear that he loves these people and that he respects them,” Zelensky said of Trump’s view on long-standing leaders. “Because, for him, people capable of ruling for twenty, thirty, or forty years are necessarily very strong people.”
Scheduled Meetings in Brussels
Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Brussels for meetings with leaders from NATO and the European Union. According to the Financial Times, several European officials are expected to urge the Ukrainian leader to temper his public criticism of Donald Trump to prevent further strain on the alliance between Washington and Kyiv.
Worth a look
