Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised “real leaders” in Europe at a summit in Belgium.
According to CNN, taking a swipe at US President Donald Trump on Friday, October 16, Zelenskyy called European “real leaders” amid testy relations between Kyiv and Washington.
European leaders are rallying around Zelenskyy after the White House heaped pressure on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities, even as Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue unabated.
After halting strikes on Russian oil refineries for three days at the request of the United States, Ukraine has resumed those attacks given Russia did not adhere to Trump’s so-called “energy ceasefire.”
Trump, who is desperate for soaring global diesel prices to ease ahead of next month’s midterm elections, blindsided European leaders last week when he struck a deal allowing Russian diesel exports, a move Zelenskyy said had left him feeling betrayed.
The US president has blamed the rise in fuel prices on the Ukraine-Russia war, eager to deflect attention from his war in Iran which remains deeply unpopular with voters.
On Thursday, Trump once again lashed out at Zelenskyy in an interview with Newsmax, calling him “not a good guy for us to deal with.”
“I’m not a big fan of Zelensky. They’ve destroyed that country,” Trump said, without acknowledging Russia’s invasion. “I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin.”
As Zelenskyy arrived at Friday’s summit in Brussels, flanked by the European Union’s top leaders, he didn’t mention the deterioration in US relations, but was keen to emphasize the strength of his relationship with the EU.
