Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent diesel deal with Russia and condemned Moscow’s approach to peace negotiations as a “parody” during a European Union summit in Brussels on Friday. Zelensky’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between Kyiv and Washington, as well as ongoing military attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Zelensky accused the agreement allowing Russia to trade diesel with the United States of channeling funds directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, thereby financing the war against Ukraine. He acknowledged that while the deal would not compensate for the global market disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it would nonetheless boost Russia’s war efforts. The deal, announced by Trump ahead of U.S. midterm elections, has sparked concern among Ukraine and European allies, who view it as undermining sanctions aimed at pressuring Moscow.
At the summit, Zelensky expressed appreciation for European leaders, whom he described as “real leaders,” emphasizing the importance of continued and increased support for Ukraine. He called on the EU to provide an additional €70 billion ($79 billion) in funding next year, highlighting the severe economic impact of the conflict, which Ukraine estimates could cost €155 billion in 2027. European Council President Antonio Costa stressed that this was “no time to withdraw support” or ease sanctions on Russia, while Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten underscored the urgent need for unconditional European backing against Russia’s intensified attacks.
The relationship between Zelensky and Trump has deteriorated sharply following Trump’s criticism of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, which the U.S. president labeled a “disgrace.” Trump also claimed that dealing with Putin was easier than with Zelensky. The strained ties have raised concerns in Kyiv about the potential reduction of U.S. intelligence sharing and military aid. Zelensky noted ongoing disruptions to the SpaceX Starshield satellite system, a crucial U.S.-provided platform used by Ukraine for battlefield communications and drone defense, although officials denied that any deliberate interference had been ordered by the U.S. administration.
Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground continues to exact a heavy toll. Recent Russian drone strikes on Kharkiv killed three people and left hundreds of thousands without power elsewhere in Ukraine. Zelensky described Moscow’s peace overtures as insincere, accusing Putin of having no genuine interest in negotiations. Putin, speaking in Russia, asserted that Moscow was establishing a “security zone” along its border inside Ukraine—a non-negotiable demand in any future peace talks—and portrayed the need for securing Russia’s western border regions as paramount.
The Kremlin has blamed Ukraine for undermining the chances of resuming talks after Kyiv’s use of drones against Moscow during Russia’s parliamentary election last month. Meanwhile, Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev indicated that additional U.S.-Russia joint projects, beyond the diesel deal, could be announced soon, including data center initiatives powered by Russian nuclear energy.
As Ukraine faces one of the most challenging phases of the war, European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to backing Kyiv, even as uncertainty looms over the reliability of U.S. support amid Washington’s shifting policy positions.