TL;DR
Donald Trump said in a Newsmax interview that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is harder to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he is “not a big fan” of Zelensky. Trump also criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and questioned whether Zelensky retains public support. The status and terms of the energy-sector truce Trump previously announced remain disputed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he finds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky harder to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticizing Zelensky’s approach to negotiations and saying he is “not a big fan” of him in an interview with Newsmax. The remarks come amid disagreement over attacks on Russian oil facilities and the status of an energy-sector truce Trump said the two countries had reached.
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Trump accused Zelensky of saying he wants a settlement without being willing to reach one. “I find Zelenskyy to be more difficult to deal with than Putin,” he said, according to Meduza’s report of the Newsmax interview. Trump also called Zelensky “not a good guy for us to deal with” and said, “No, I’m not a big fan of Zelensky.” These are Trump’s assessments; the interview report does not independently establish either leader’s negotiating position.
Trump again objected to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing that the attacks were pushing up global fuel prices. He called the strikes “a disgrace” and said there were other targets Ukraine could hit. The account does not provide figures or independent evidence linking the strikes to a specific change in fuel prices.
He also questioned whether Zelensky still has public support and said Ukraine should hold an election. Ukraine has not held elections under martial law. Trump said he believes the war will “end soon,” while acknowledging that the leaders’ hostility makes an agreement difficult. His prediction was not accompanied by a timeline or details of a proposed settlement.
Pressure on Kyiv and Peace Talks
Trump’s comments matter because they signal how the U.S. president is publicly framing the relationship with Kyiv as the war continues: he placed more blame on Zelensky’s negotiating conduct and Ukraine’s military choices while speaking favorably about the possibility of dealing with Putin. The interview alone does not establish a change in U.S. policy, but such statements can shape expectations in Kyiv, Moscow and among other governments watching American support for Ukraine.
The dispute over refinery attacks is also tied to the competing accounts of an energy truce. Trump has described an agreement, while Zelensky previously said the announcement came as news to him. The disagreement leaves questions about what each side understood the arrangement to cover and whether it was being observed. Trump’s comments do not resolve those questions.
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The Disputed Energy Truce
The remarks follow a series of public statements in October. On October 9, Trump agreed with Putin on supplies of Russian diesel fuel to U.S. and global markets, a decision criticized by Ukraine and European countries, according to Meduza. On October 11, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a truce in the energy sector.
Zelensky said the announced truce “came as news” to him. On October 15, he said Ukraine had not struck Russian oil refineries for three days but would resume attacks because Russia had not observed the truce. Russian authorities, in contrast, have claimed Ukraine never stopped its strikes. These are conflicting public accounts; the report does not independently verify the attacks or the terms and implementation of any truce.
“The announcement “came as news” to him.”
— Volodymyr Zelensky, describing Trump’s October 11 truce announcement
Truce Terms and Strike Claims
The terms and status of the energy-sector truce remain unclear from the reported statements. Trump announced an agreement, while Zelensky said the announcement was new to him and later said Ukraine would resume refinery strikes. Russian officials have disputed Ukraine’s account of a pause. The report does not independently verify the timing or extent of attacks by either side.
It is also unclear what evidence Trump relied on when questioning Zelensky’s public support, or what polling or other measures he had in mind. No election date or plan was cited in the interview account. Trump’s assertion that the war could end soon is a prediction, not confirmation that a settlement is imminent.
Next Signals From Kyiv and Washington
Further statements from the U.S., Ukrainian and Russian governments may clarify whether they recognize the same energy-truce terms and whether attacks on oil facilities have resumed. The report provides no scheduled meeting or new negotiation milestone tied to Trump’s comments, so the next concrete development is not yet clear.
Readers will also be watching for any policy steps from Washington, including changes to its dealings with Kyiv or Moscow. Trump’s interview comments alone do not confirm that such a change has been made. Any further claims about a ceasefire, negotiations or the parties’ military actions will need to be assessed against statements from each government and independently verifiable information.
Key Questions
What did Trump say about Zelensky?
Trump said he finds Zelensky harder to deal with than Putin, accused the Ukrainian president of not genuinely seeking a settlement and said he was “not a big fan” of him.
Why did Trump criticize Ukraine’s refinery strikes?
Trump said the strikes were driving up global fuel prices and argued Ukraine had other targets. The interview account does not independently verify a price effect or provide supporting figures.
Did Ukraine and Russia agree to an energy truce?
Trump announced on October 11 that they had agreed to one. Zelensky said the announcement came as news to him, and later said Ukraine would resume refinery strikes because Russia had not observed the truce. The terms and status remain disputed.
Why has Ukraine not held an election?
Ukraine has not held elections under martial law, according to the source report. Trump questioned whether Zelensky retains public support, but the interview account cites no polling or election schedule.
Does Trump’s interview mean U.S. policy toward Ukraine has changed?
The interview records Trump’s criticism, but it does not confirm a policy change. The report does not describe a new U.S. decision on aid, negotiations or relations with Ukraine.
Source: rss
