Trump Slams Zelenskyy Over Russian Oil Refinery Strikes, Demands Ukraine Elections

WASHINGTON, Oct 16: US President Donald Trump has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing that attacks on facilities producing diesel fuel were pushing up energy prices and harming global interests.

In an interview with Newsmax’s Finnerty programme at the White House on Thursday, Trump said Ukraine had other targets available and questioned the impact of striking Russian fuel-production facilities.

“I think that's a disgrace. There's plenty of other targets,” Trump said.

“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,” he added.

Trump’s remarks reflected his criticism of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv has used as part of its campaign to disrupt Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its war effort.

Trump also questioned Zelenskyy’s willingness to negotiate an end to the war, saying the Ukrainian leader was not someone Washington should be dealing with.

“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.

The US president also renewed his call for elections in Ukraine. Asked about a proposed two-month pause to allow the country to hold a vote, Trump said: “I think you need an election.”

Ukraine has not held a presidential election since 2019. The country's elections have been postponed under martial law imposed following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Trump also questioned whether Ukrainians were satisfied with their leadership amid continued Russian attacks on residential areas. He 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 argued that Russia's much larger population gave Moscow a significant advantage in sustaining its war effort, saying it could absorb heavy military losses more readily than Ukraine.

He also acknowledged that Ukraine had received advanced American military equipment, describing it as the “best equipment in the world.”

His remarks underline continuing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over military strategy, energy infrastructure attacks and the terms of a possible settlement with Moscow.