Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought support from European allies at a summit in Brussels on Friday as tensions with the United States escalated over Kyiv’s decision to resume attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Zelensky had earlier declared that Ukraine would no longer comply with US President Donald Trump’s demands to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities.
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have become increasingly strained since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow supplying large quantities of diesel to the global market.
Tensions have also intensified following disruptions to critical US-supplied satellite systems, affecting the Ukrainian military’s ability to repel Russia’s intensive bombing campaign.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said the pause in attacks on Russian oil refineries had ended because Moscow had failed to honour a ceasefire on strikes against energy infrastructure announced by Trump.
In response, Trump described Ukraine’s renewed attacks as “disgraceful” and claimed Kyiv’s actions were contributing to rising global energy prices.
“I find Zelensky much harder to deal with than Putin,” Trump told Newsmax in an interview published on Thursday.
European leaders, however, have largely voiced support for Zelensky as they seek to navigate the latest deterioration in Trump’s often volatile relationship with Kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine should receive “all the help it needs to defend itself” after meeting Zelensky.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed solidarity with Ukraine in a social media post.
“I want to assure you, Ukrainian friends and President Zelensky: YOU ARE NOT ALONE,” he wrote.
Zelensky met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Thursday and held several bilateral meetings with European leaders ahead of Friday’s European Union summit.
