Trump's Russia deals fuel Ukraine frustration
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The gist
Trump unveiled a deal bringing nearly 3 million barrels of Russian diesel onto global markets.
Ukraine's leader says he feels betrayed, and Kyiv has resumed strikes on Russian refineries.
Background
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has made ending the war in Ukraine a principal foreign policy objective since taking office in January 2025, and has often expressed respect for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, has publicly accused Trump of siding with Russia. Tensions flared after Trump announced a diesel supply deal with Putin and then called for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy, while U.S. frustration grew over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure that have added stress to global markets.
How it unfolded
- Dec 28, 2025Zelenskyy and Trump meet at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
- Oct 9, 2026Trump unveils a deal with Putin that would immediately bring nearly 3 million barrels of Russian diesel onto global markets.
- Oct 10, 2026Trump accuses Zelenskyy of being able to end the war but not doing so, and says Ukraine should choose a new president who would agree to end the war.
- Oct 11, 2026Trump announces an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia as 'effective immediately'; according to the Financial Times, Ukraine knew nothing of such an agreement at the time.
- Oct 14, 2026Asked by Piers Morgan whether he had been 'betrayed' by the Trump administration, Zelenskyy answers 'Yes.'
- Oct 15, 2026Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian refineries with a strike in the Ryazan region; Zelenskyy tells the Financial Times Ukraine's patience had run out: 'The block is out. We're done.'
- Oct 16, 2026Trump waives additional sanctions on the Russian economy, saying he didn't want to jeopardize peace negotiations.
- Oct 17, 2026Trump calls for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy and criticizes Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, a day after announcing the diesel supply deal with Russia.
- Oct 19, 2026Trump tells reporters outside the White House: 'Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much.' Russian forces launch fresh attacks on Ukraine hours after Trump said an 'energy ceasefire' had taken effect.
- Oct 20, 2026Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to meet Zelenskyy in Oslo, with Norway's prime minister and Finland's president participating.
- Oct 21, 2026Witkoff and Kushner will fly to St. Petersburg, Russia, to meet Putin in his hometown.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Trump says Russia 'has been fine on Ukraine,' that the U.S. has given a lot to Ukraine while getting nothing back, and that Zelenskyy 'doesn't want to end this war.'
- Official
- Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed by the Trump administration, calling it 'a pity that we are losing a strong partner,' and that it is 'painful when Trump chooses one side.'
- Party
- Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Pennsylvania Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, calls it 'historically dishonorable' that Trump 'supports Mr. Putin in this effort.'
- Party
- Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) say both parties in Congress understand what will happen if Putin 'faces no consequences for his murderous invasion.'
- Expert
- An American Enterprise Institute commentary describes Trump's announced 'energy ceasefire' as 'a breakthrough more imagined than real.'
Still unverified
Trump announced an 'energy ceasefire' between Ukraine and Russia as 'effective immediately' with both sides agreeing, but according to the Financial Times Ukraine knew nothing of such an agreement at the time, and neither Moscow nor Kyiv had publicly confirmed it.