Zelensky sharpens criticism of Trump
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The gist
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Trump's Russia diesel deal and said U.S. intelligence sharing was blocked.
The public rift threatens U.S. support for Kyiv as Russia steps up energy strikes.
Background
Volodymyr Zelensky is Ukraine's president; Donald Trump is the U.S. president. Relations worsened after a surprise U.S.-Russia diesel deal was announced on Oct. 9, which Zelensky called a gift to Putin that would help the Kremlin finance the war. Ukrainian leaders say Trump has gone so far in putting Russia's interests ahead of Ukraine's security that holding their tongue would be riskier than speaking up.
How it unfolded
- Oct 9, 2026A surprise U.S.-Russia diesel deal is announced, after which tensions between Trump and Zelensky worsen.
- Oct 15, 2026Trump calls Zelensky 'more difficult to deal with than Putin' and Ukraine's refinery strikes a 'disgrace'; Zelensky says at an EU summit in Brussels that the strikes will resume after a three-day pause at Trump's request.
- Oct 16, 2026Trump uses waiver authority under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 to suspend several new sanctions, restrictions and tariffs.
- Oct 17, 2026At the EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky criticizes Trump's diesel deal with Russia, saying it would help the Kremlin finance the war, and calls Moscow's actions on peace talks a 'parody'.
- Oct 18, 2026Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns Zelensky to 'be very careful' over his claim on NBC's Meet the Press that U.S. intelligence sharing was temporarily interrupted.
- Oct 19, 2026Trump tells reporters Zelensky 'doesn't know what he's talking about' and says 'it's time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine'; Zelensky speaks by phone with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Oct 20, 2026Zelensky arrives in Oslo to meet Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff; Russia expands energy strikes westward, causing blackouts in six regions.
Who’s saying what
- Trump
- Trump says Zelensky is 'more difficult to deal with than Putin,' 'doesn't know what he's talking about,' and that 'it's time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.'
- Zelensky
- Zelensky says he is 'very honest' with Trump and can't applaud leaders whose words go against Ukraine and support Russia, calling alignment with Putin a 'historic mistake.'
- Official
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Zelensky to 'be more careful with statements that aren't true' over the intelligence-sharing claim.
- Support
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia did not respect the energy ceasefire 'not a single minute' and that the EU will not lift sanctions unless Russia stops the war.
Still unverified
Kyiv's reports of restrictions on a Pentagon-funded satellite network, gaps in U.S. intelligence sharing and delayed interceptor missiles are denied by American officials; Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any U.S. role in Starshield slowdowns, while Elon Musk blamed Trump and the U.S. government. Some reports say a possible Trump meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping could exclude Zelensky entirely.