Trump called strikes on Russian oil refineries “a disgrace” because of fuel prices
He voiced criticism after a three-day pause in Ukrainian attacks
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine for resuming strikes on Russian oil refineries. His remarks came after a three-day pause in Ukrainian attacks, during which Russia continued its massive strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Russian forces used missiles and attack drones against power plants and other energy facilities. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians lost power.
Before the attacks resumed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview that Ukraine’s patience had run out and announced a return to strikes on Russian oil refineries. Kyiv then resumed the attacks amid Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.
In an interview, Trump directed his criticism personally at the Ukrainian president:
“All he’s doing is driving up global oil prices. In my opinion, it’s a disgrace,” Donald Trump said, referring to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. president also linked Ukrainian strikes to rising diesel prices. However, the claim that the attacks affect global prices is his assessment: the remarks quoted here provide no specific data to confirm the scale of any such impact.
“There are many other targets that could be hit, but when they attack facilities that produce diesel fuel—and it’s needed by us and the whole world—that doesn’t benefit the world,” Trump said.
In effect, the U.S. president urged Ukraine to choose other targets. He stressed that fuel from oil refineries is needed not only by Russia, but by other countries as well.
Trump also spoke again about the possibility of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war. He described the personal animosity between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin as a major obstacle to a peace agreement.
“I’m not a big fan of Zelenskyy. I think they’d both like to see this end, but in my view, it’s harder to make a deal with Zelenskyy than with Putin,” White House chief Donald Trump said.
We previously reported:
- Trump urged Ukraine to elect a new president who could make a deal
- Defense Forces struck the Ilsky oil refinery — a fire broke out at the plant
- Drone strike halted oil processing at the Yaroslavl refinery
- Trump urged Zelenskyy not to strike diesel fuel producers in Russia
- From Ryazan to Crimea: Zelenskyy confirmed new strikes on oil refineries, logistics facilities, and a Russian patrol boat base
