Ukraine strikes on Russia refineries 'a disgrace' - Trump

Ukraine's resumption of strikes on Russian refineries is a "disgrace" that keeps global energy prices elevated, US President Donald Trump has said.

Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery after President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Kyiv was abandoning a ceasefire covering energy sites that Mr Trump had announced, and criticised his willingness to strike deals with Moscow.

"All he's doing is making the world oil price higher. Well, I think that's a disgrace," Mr Trump told the Newsmax news outlet after Ukraine hit a Rosneft refinery southeast of Moscow which helps to supply the Russian capital.

"There are a ‌lot of targets you ⁠can hit, but when you shoot at diesel refineries where you make, you know, diesel oil, and we need that, and the world needs that, then he's not doing a good service for the world," said Mr Trump.

Russia rained down missile and drone strikes, targeting energy facilities such as power stations, knocking ‌out supply to hundreds of thousands, and Mr Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine's patience had run out.

Mr Trump's administration has ⁠been trying to mediate a ceasefire deal to end the war that started ‌with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Mr Trump repeated to Newsmax his ⁠belief that ‌Mr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin hate each other, which makes it hard to end the conflict.

"I'm not a big fan of Zelensky," Mr Trump said. "I think they actually both would like to see it ⁠end, but I think I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than ⁠Putin."

As Mr Trump pressured Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, Ukraine faced reduced usage of a satellite system on which it relies for battlefield communications and drone operations.

The order came from inside the White House, according to two US officials and a western official briefed on the matter, without specifying who there made the decision ‌or was responsible for implementing the order.

Zelensky to push for more weapons at EU summit

Mr Zelensky will press for more military and financial support from EU leaders, including the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, when he joins them for the second day of their Brussels summit.

The Ukrainian president met NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels and held a string of bilateral meetings with European leaders.

The focus of the summit will now shift to Ukraine, as Mr Zelensky comes to grips with the worst breakdown in relations with Mr Turmp since the Oval Office humiliation 18 months ago.

Ukraine had paused attacks on Russian oil refineries for three days in deference to a US request based on a belief it would bring down diesel prices ahead of the midterm elections.

However, Russia continued to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Over 100 civilians have been killed in the past week.

Relations between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump deteriorated further after it emerged that the White House had shut off early warning intelligence that would have given Ukraine time to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.

In his meetings with EU leaders today, Mr Zelensky may come under gentle pressure to tone down his criticism of Mr Trump, even if most leaders privately share his exasperation.

Additional reporting Tony Connelly