TL;DR
Get hardware and tech essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
In a Newsmax interview, President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is harder to negotiate with than Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he is “not a big fan” of Zelensky. Trump also criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and questioned whether Zelensky retains public support; the status and terms of a claimed energy-sector truce remain disputed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he finds Volodymyr Zelensky harder to deal with than Vladimir Putin and described himself as “not a big fan” of the Ukrainian president in an interview with Newsmax. Trump also criticized Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and questioned whether Zelensky still has public support. The remarks came as efforts to halt the war remained unsettled.
“I find Zelenskyy to be more difficult to deal with than Putin,” Trump said in the interview. He accused the Ukrainian leader of not wanting a settlement, saying, “He says he wants to settle, but he doesn’t.” These are Trump’s assessments; the interview report does not provide independent evidence for his characterization of Zelensky’s negotiating position.
Trump objected to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that they contribute to higher global fuel prices, amid a disputed diesel deal with Putin. “I think that’s a disgrace. There’s plenty of other targets,” he said. He also called for elections in Ukraine and questioned whether Zelensky retains public backing. Ukraine has not held elections under martial law during the ongoing war.
Trump said he believes the war will “end soon,” claiming both sides want it to stop, and described hostility between Putin and Zelensky as an obstacle to an agreement, amid disputed claims of an energy ceasefire. His remarks came amid conflicting statements over a proposed energy-sector truce and the continuation of strikes on energy infrastructure.
Trump’s Remarks Test U.S.-Ukraine Ties
The comments publicly questioned Zelensky’s willingness to negotiate and his domestic legitimacy while the United States remains a central participant in diplomatic discussions over the war. Trump’s criticism may shape how Kyiv, Moscow and other governments interpret Washington’s approach, though the interview alone does not establish a change in U.S. policy.
His objections to refinery strikes also brought a disputed military tactic and its claimed effect on fuel prices into the debate. The remarks came as the parties gave conflicting accounts of whether an energy truce was agreed and observed, leaving the scope for renewed attacks and possible de-escalation uncertain.
Ukrainian oil refinery safety equipment
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Disputed Truce and Refinery Strikes
On October 9, Trump agreed with Putin on supplies of Russian diesel fuel to U.S. and global markets, according to the report. Ukraine and European countries criticized that decision. On October 11, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a truce in the energy sector.
Zelensky said the announced truce “came as news” to him. On October 15, he said Ukraine had not struck Russian oil refineries for three days but would resume attacks because, in Ukraine’s view, Russia had not observed the truce. Russian authorities said Ukraine had never stopped its strikes, a conflicting account. The available report does not specify the truce’s agreed terms or provide independent verification of either side’s claims.
“The announced truce “came as news” to him.”
— Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to Trump’s October 11 announcement
energy sector truce negotiation tools
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Truce Terms and Strike Claims Disputed
It is not clear whether Russia and Ukraine reached a mutually accepted energy truce, what its terms were, or how compliance would be monitored. Zelensky’s statement and the Russian authorities’ account differ on whether Ukrainian refinery strikes paused, and the report provides no independent verification to resolve that dispute.
Trump’s remarks do not clarify what diplomatic steps, if any, the U.S. administration will take next. The interview also does not establish the basis for his claim that Zelensky lacks public support. No election date or change to Ukraine’s wartime legal arrangements was announced in the reported remarks.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Diplomacy and Energy Attacks Ahead
Developments to watch include whether Washington, Kyiv and Moscow clarify the proposed energy truce and whether attacks on energy infrastructure continue. Further statements from the parties may establish whether they recognize shared terms or remain at odds over the agreement.
Trump said he believes the war will end soon, but the interview did not identify a timetable, negotiating framework or specific next meeting. The remarks did not confirm a diplomatic outcome.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What did Trump say about Zelensky?
Trump said Zelensky was more difficult to deal with than Putin, accused him of not wanting a settlement and said he was “not a big fan” of the Ukrainian president.
Why did Trump criticize Ukraine’s refinery strikes?
Trump said the attacks were a “disgrace” and claimed they were driving up global fuel prices. The report presents this as Trump’s argument; it does not independently establish the effect of the strikes on prices.
Was an energy truce agreed?
Trump announced on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy-sector truce. Zelensky said the announcement came as news to him, and the parties later gave conflicting accounts of whether Ukraine had paused refinery strikes. The agreement’s terms and status are unclear.
Why has Ukraine not held elections?
The report says elections have not been held because martial law is in force during the war. Trump questioned whether Zelensky retained public support, but the interview did not establish a basis for that claim or announce an election date.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
