Trump Claims Zelenskyy Never Wanted to End War in Ukraine
US President Donald Trump has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of never wanting to end the war with Russia amid the current wars in the world, while both leaders traded claims over strikes on energy infrastructure and arms deliveries.
Trump Accuses Zelenskyy of Prolonging the War
US President Donald Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that Zelenskyy is targeting diesel refineries in Russia while knowing these attacks seriously hurt world diesel markets, including those in the United States. [3] Trump added that farmers, ranchers, and businesses of all kinds are suffering greatly from this. [3] He claimed Zelenskyy does not care and, with all the money Europe is giving him and that former US President Joe Biden gave him in the past, does not want to end this war and probably never did. [3] Trump said Zelenskyy could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now. [3] The US president also referred to certain oceans that Ukraine had supposedly lost. [3] Trump stated that Zelenskyy’s country is in shambles, a large portion of his land is lost, his oceans and seas are gone, and his male population is low, wounded, and/or dead. [3] Trump said he is negotiating peace between Ukraine and Russia and does not want to do anything that will drive Russia away from the bargaining table. [3] He claimed great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations. [3] Trump also said Russia is doing very little, if anything, to help Iran compared with what it could be doing. [3]
Zelenskyy Responds to Pressure Claims
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Donald Trump of trying to pressure Kyiv into surrendering to Russia. [2] Zelenskyy offered a new proposal to stop targeting Russian refineries in exchange for deliveries of more Patriot air-defense missiles. [2] He said now there are dangerous days ahead of the elections, referring to the Nov. 3 midterms in the US. [2] Zelenskyy stated his latest model was that Ukraine does not target Russian diesel and the US gives missiles for Patriot systems to protect Ukrainian facilities, but they just want Ukraine to stop attacking diesel. [2] He added that if Ukraine strikes that, they will disconnect Ukraine from something. [2] On 18 October, Zelenskyy accused Trump of trying to pressure Ukraine into capitulating to Russia and delaying deliveries of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems. [3]
Donald Trump accuses Volodymyr Zelenskyy of never wanting to end the war in Ukraine. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Diplomatic Efforts to Ease Tensions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with top US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sunday to try to ease tensions. [4] After speaking to them, Zelenskyy said a lot depends on the US position in the war but that it is clear that there are many things that matter to all and that this war must be brought to an end. [4] He said Ukraine was ready to work constructively and honestly. [4] Zelenskyy said Ukraine expects exactly this approach from all partners, both from the Europeans and of course from the American side. [4] He said he discussed deliveries of US Patriot air defence systems as Kyiv struggles to counter Russian missiles. [4] Zelenskyy told US broadcaster NBC it would be a historic mistake if Washington formally supported Russia and that he hoped Trump would change his decisions. [4] He also said he was thankful the US resumed intelligence sharing after a pause that left his country vulnerable to Russian missile strikes. [4]
Continued Attacks on Energy Infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of breaking US President Donald Trump’s energy ceasefire 76 times. [4] Russian strikes left tens of thousands without power in several regions, with Ukrainian officials reporting three people had been killed. [4] Ukraine’s army launched drones at Saint Petersburg late on Sunday, setting an oil refinery ablaze and killing one person, Moscow said. [4] Rising smoke was visible from Saint Petersburg’s historic city centre on the banks of the Neva River, with Russia saying Ukraine struck an oil refinery and depot. [4] Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said one person was killed and five hospitalised in the city. [4] Authorities were fighting fires at the Saint Petersburg oil terminal, the Ruchyi oil depot and industrial warehouses. [4] Russia’s VKontakte social network said its data centre was hit and Ozon also reported a strike on its logistics centre. [4] The head of the wider Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, said air defence shot down 144 Ukrainian drones, with state media saying this was the largest attack on the city since the start of the war. [4] A car burns after a Russian airstrike on a residential neighbourhood in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. [4]
Zelenskyy speaks to US envoys amid Trump spat. — Source: channelnewsasia
Calls for Focus on Ending the Conflict
US Senator Marco Rubio says Ukraine and Russia should be focused on ending the war. [1] A US-led push to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II has so far not brought about a breakthrough. [4] Trump has in the past grown frustrated with both Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin because of their lack of progress. [4] The Kremlin said Ukrainian attacks on its cities will not change its war aims. [4] Putin has repeatedly said Moscow intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine. [4] In a fifth year of war, few see a way out of the conflict. [4] There is a general feeling that they are attacking and we are attacking and it has become the dreadful routine of war. [4] Moscow has rained drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities daily and Kyiv says its strikes are fair retribution. [4] Ukrainian strikes caused nationwide fuel shortages in Russia earlier this year. [4]
Negotiations in Current Wars in the World
Trump stated he is in the process of negotiating a peace between Russia and Ukraine and making great progress. [4] He claimed Zelenskyy does not care and with all the money that Europe is famously giving him he does not want to end this war and probably never did. [4] Zelenskyy spoke to the American officials as both Russia and Ukraine hit each other’s energy sites, with Moscow leaving thousands without power and Kyiv carrying out the largest drone attack on Saint Petersburg since the start of the war in 2022. [4] Trump and Zelensky have clashed as the US president blocked new sanctions on Russia and struck a diesel deal with Moscow. [4] Zelenskyy earlier told US broadcaster NBC it would be a historic mistake if Washington formally supported Russia. [4]
What to watch next: Rubio says Ukraine and Russia should be focused on ending the war while a US-led push to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II has so far not brought about a breakthrough.
