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U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday over renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries, saying the attacks were driving up global energy prices and calling for an election in Ukraine.
“Well, I think that’s a disgrace,” Trump told Newsmax when asked about the refinery strikes.
“There’s plenty of other targets,” he said, arguing that attacks on facilities producing diesel were affecting global supplies.
“When you shoot at diesel refineries where you make, you know, diesel oil and we need that, and the world needs that, then he’s not doing a good service for the world,” Trump said.
Trump also criticized Zelenskyy’s approach to negotiations aimed at ending the war.
“Zelenskyy is not a good guy for us to deal with,” Trump said.
“He doesn’t want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn’t. No, I’m not a big fan of Zelenskyy,” he added.
Trump said he believed both Russia and Ukraine wanted the war to end, but described Zelenskyy as more difficult to negotiate with 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.”
Asked about a proposed two-month pause that would allow Ukraine to hold elections, Trump said: “I think you need an election.”
He also questioned whether Ukrainians were satisfied with their leadership amid continued Russian attacks on residential buildings.
Trump cited an interview with a Ukrainian woman who blamed Zelenskyy for the country’s suffering and military losses, quoting her as saying: “Zelensky has destroyed our country.”
Trump said Russia’s larger population gave Moscow a significant manpower advantage over Ukraine.
He argued that Russia could sustain heavy military losses while Ukraine did not have comparable reserves of personnel.
Trump also acknowledged that Ukraine had received advanced U.S. military equipment, describing it as the “best equipment in the world.”
Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Ukraine’s pause in strikes on Russian refineries was “done,” saying Moscow had not complied with an energy ceasefire announced by Trump.
Against the backdrop of weakening ties with Trump, Zelenskyy met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels and held a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders.
He was also expected to take part in an EU summit on Friday.
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