Zelenskyy defies Trump, hits Russian refineries
Ukraine will no longer abide by President Donald Trump’s demands not to strike Russian oil refineries, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in remarks published on Thursday, amid deepening tensions between the two leaders over a US-Russia diesel agreement.
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets.
Zelenskyy described the deal as a “weak decision,” saying it would encourage Russia to prolong its four-and-a-half-year war with Ukraine, while several of Ukraine’s European allies criticized the agreement.
Addressing the criticism on Saturday, Trump claimed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries were to blame for rising diesel prices and said it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
And earlier this week, Ukraine reported disruptions to a critical US satellite communications system that its army uses on the battlefield.
“We need HONESTY from our partners about this war,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media on Thursday.
In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan on Wednesday, Zelenskyy agreed that he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s diesel supply deal with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
He also questioned the advice that Trump was receiving, after senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv openly accused the United States of helping Russia.
Satellite row
Trump’s war in Iran has led to oil shortages and ensuing price spikes, creating major headwinds for his Republican Party ahead of midterm elections early next month.
The Kremlin accused Ukraine on Thursday of derailing US peace efforts by resuming its strikes.
Much of the outrage in Ukraine this week has been over restrictions to the Starshield satellite communications system that its military relies upon to detect incoming Russian attacks and to coordinate its front-line response.
Defense officials confirmed the United States had threatened to withdraw intelligence-sharing if Ukraine continued long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries.
But tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has also called for Zelenskyy to be replaced as leader, said his SpaceX company was not behind any disruption to the Starshield system.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” he said.
“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and, ultimately, POTUS,” he added, referring to Trump.
