Zelensky rallies EU support as Trump says Ukraine leader ‘more difficult to deal with than Putin’

Donald Trump criticised Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him harder to deal with than Vladimir Putin and condemning Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelensky said the strikes would resume after a three-day pause because Russia had not observed the energy ceasefire Trump requested, while Russian attacks on Ukraine continued.

At a Brussels summit, EU leaders backed Ukraine and discussed funding and preparations for its fifth winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Ursula von der Leyen said sanctions would increase and remain until Russia stopped the war. Trump’s comments come amid tensions over Ukraine’s refinery attacks, a US deal to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, and restrictions on Starlink, which Ukraine’s military relies on.