President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the tension between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, describing Zelensky as “not a good guy for us to deal with” and questioning whether he wants to strike a peace deal with Russia.
The comments came as Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, further sowing discord between Washington and Kyiv at a time when diplomatic efforts to resolve the war are uncertain. Trump spoke out during an interview with Newsmax that he was frustrated with Ukraine’s military campaigns against Russian energy infrastructure.
Trump criticised Ukraine’s move to attack Russian oil facilities, saying attacks on refineries processing diesel fuel would contribute to global energy prices. He called the renewed strikes a “disgrace” and said Ukraine should consider other military targets.
And attacks on facilities that provide fuel to international markets could have repercussions for the rest of the country, because they can go beyond the battlefield, Trump said. His comments are indicative of a growing rift between the US administration and the Ukrainian leadership over how Kyiv should conduct its military campaign while diplomacy is on track.
The war follows a short-lived understanding on attacks on energy infrastructure. Trump announced on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt strikes against each other’s energy facilities. Ukraine's officials were confused, but it also meant that Russian attacks were continuing.
Ukraine then resumed strikes on Russian energy targets, including a refinery in the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow. Ukrainian officials claimed Russia had failed to honour the planned pause in attacks in the past, and Moscow accused Kyiv of the same. The competing claims have complicated efforts to maintain even a limited agreement on protecting energy infrastructure.
Trump has also questioned whether Zelensky is prepared to accept a negotiated settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the Newsmax interview, the American president said he believed the conflict would eventually end through an agreement, but Zelensky was making negotiations more difficult.
.@POTUS: "Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with... If they're going to end up with a settlement of some kind, they're not going to do it with him. He doesn't want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn't." https://t.co/jVbg0jRJg0
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 16, 2026
Trump also said he found the Ukrainian leader harder to deal with than Putin. His comments have raised new questions about Washington’s approach to the conflict and whether the United States will continue to provide the same level of diplomatic and military support to Kyiv as the war continues.
Zelensky has criticised Trump’s policy for his actions and said he feels betrayed. “We feel betrayed. I feel betrayed, and I feel hurt by Trump’s ideas,” the Ukrainian president told the British journalist Piers Morgan in an interview, regarding a controversial agreement with Russian diesel suppliers and developments in Ukraine’s access to satellite communications.
Zelensky said Ukraine was losing a strong partner. And he said Washington’s actions could undermine Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself. He has also maintained that Ukraine needs international support if the Russian attacks continue.
The dispute has been generated as the war goes on and pressure on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure increases. Russia has continued drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian targets, and Kyiv has carried out long-range strikes on Russian military and energy facilities. The energy infrastructure is at the centre of the conflict because disruption can mean downgrading electricity transmission, fuel supply, industrial activity and government income. Attacks on oil refineries can also affect the international energy market for countries outside Russia and Ukraine.
The latest flare-up shows how international efforts to end the war have come up short. Trump has made clear he wants to reach an agreement, as has Zelensky.
With tension between Washington and Kyiv rising again, the future of US involvement in the conflict remains a major international concern. European leaders have engaged Zelensky as Ukraine seeks support from its allies. But whether Trump’s remarks change the way the US goes about things or drive a new round of diplomatic talks remains uncertain. The dispute over refinery strikes and the proposed energy ceasefire does reveal a widening divide between the two leaders as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.
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