Zelensky Defends Refinery Strikes as Trump Condemns 644-Drone Assault and Russia Diesel Deal
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Oct 16
Zelensky Defends Refinery Strikes as Trump Condemns 644-Drone Assault and Russia Diesel Deal
2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Oct 16
Summary
Brussels talks laid bare the rift with Washington: Zelensky said he was defending Ukraine’s interests after Trump called him harder to deal with than Putin and branded renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries “a disgrace.”
The clash centers on Trump’s diesel import deal with Moscow and a failed energy ceasefire. Kyiv says it halted refinery attacks only while Russia complied, then resumed them after continued Russian strikes.
Starlink curbs and US pressure have deepened the dispute. Zelensky said the slowdown remained a “very dangerous” problem, while Washington had warned intelligence sharing could be at risk if Ukraine kept hitting Russian oil sites.
EU leaders publicly backed Kyiv at the summit, with Ursula von der Leyen urging tougher sanctions and focusing talks on winter energy, defense and funding as Russian attacks left 270,000 households without power in Volyn.
Ukraine also kept up pressure inside Russia overnight, with Moscow reporting 644 drones intercepted across 26 regions, underscoring how the war and energy politics are colliding ahead of another winter.