Trump: Ukraine Strikes ‘Disgraceful’

BRUSSELS — US President Donald Trump launched sharp criticism at Ukraine after Kyiv again struck Russian oil refineries. In an interview with the Newsmax outlet on Friday (16/10/2026), Trump called the strikes ‘disgraceful’.

“All he's doing is making the world oil price higher. Well, I think that's a disgrace,” Trump said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, after Ukraine hit a refinery southeast of Moscow that helps supply the Russian capital.

Trump last weekend surprisingly announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities. Facing US midterm elections in November, Trump blamed Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries for pushing up energy prices that could cost him at the ballot box.

Zelenskiy Abandons Energy Ceasefire

Zelenskiy said Kyiv was abandoning the energy ceasefire announced by Trump and criticized the US president's willingness to strike deals with Moscow. Following that statement, Ukraine attacked a Russian oil refinery.

The Trump administration is also considering easing sanctions on so-called ‘shadow fleet’ vessels that have transported oil and petroleum products from countries including Russia, a US official said on Wednesday.

EU leaders hit out at Trump's diesel deal, though they are also grappling with soaring energy prices since the Iran war that exposed divisions between member states on day one of the summit on Thursday.

EU Embraces Zelenskiy, Discusses Winter Package

The European Union hosted Zelenskiy in Brussels on Friday at one of the most difficult moments for Ukraine, with missiles and drones raining down on Ukrainian cities and fears the US could pull back intelligence sharing and weapons support from Kyiv.

“We want to end this war as quick as possible. We don't see now signals from the Russian side that they are ready for this, to end this war, that's why we have to prepare for the winter,” Zelenskiy said as he arrived at the summit.

According to Zelenskiy, the winter package covers not only energy but also air defense and funding, to be discussed for Ukraine's needs through the rest of this year and 2027. Zelenskiy said Ukraine had agreed a plan with European partners allowing Kyiv to close a US$27 billion deficit in military spending this year.

Budget Gap and Russia's Response

Still, Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said the country still faced an unfunded budget gap of US$32.6 billion for next year — and that does not include an estimated US$40 billion in direct military supplies from allies.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten responded to Trump's remarks: “This is not the right language. It is also in the interest of Trump to defend Ukraine in this war.”

For Russia's part, President Vladimir Putin played down the effect of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, saying they had caused nothing particularly significant. On the eve of Zelenskiy's appearance at the summit, Russia also moved to place local assets of French, German, Swedish, and Dutch companies under temporary management in retaliation for the EU's support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes on the city of Kharkiv killed three people, while strikes on the Volyn region bordering Poland left 370,000 people without power.