US President Donald Trump has criticized Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries, labeling them a "disgrace." This statement comes after an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine collapsed, leading to renewed hostilities.
Background
Ukraine resumed its strikes on Russian oil refineries following Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement that Kyiv was abandoning a ceasefire that Trump had declared last week. Notably, neither Russia nor Ukraine had officially agreed to this ceasefire. Trump expressed his disapproval during an interview with Newsmax, stating,
“"All he’s doing is making the world oil price higher. Well, I think that’s a disgrace."
He further criticized Zelenskyy for targeting diesel refineries, emphasizing the global need for diesel oil and suggesting that such actions do not serve the world well.
Deteriorating Relations
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for the release of large amounts of diesel onto global markets. Zelenskyy condemned this agreement, interpreting it as an attempt to lower fuel prices ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections. He argued that it would enable Russia to continue its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began over four and a half years ago.
