Trump Calls Ukraine's Renewed Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries 'a Disgrace'

US President Donald Trump has condemned Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries as "a disgrace," after the collapse of an "energy ceasefire" between the two warring sides. In remarks reported by The Guardian, Trump also said Zelenskyy is "more difficult to deal with than Putin," signalling fresh friction between Washington and Kyiv over the direction of the war.

The comments mark a sharp shift in tone from the US president, who has repeatedly sought to position himself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Trump's criticism of Ukraine's targeting of Russian energy infrastructure comes as the so-called energy ceasefire — an arrangement intended to halt attacks on each side's energy assets — has fallen apart.

Ukraine has increasingly focused its long-range drone and missile campaigns on Russian refining capacity, arguing that the facilities support Moscow's war effort. The strikes have disrupted fuel supplies inside Russia and, according to Ukrainian officials, reduced the country's refining throughput. Trump's public rebuke suggests the White House is concerned that such attacks complicate efforts to wind down the conflict.

For investors, the remarks add a layer of political risk to an already volatile energy picture. Any escalation in attacks on Russian refining infrastructure can feed through to global refined-product markets, particularly diesel and gasoline, while the diplomatic rupture raises questions about the durability of any future ceasefire framework. Traders will be watching whether Trump's criticism translates into pressure on Kyiv to curb the strikes, or whether Ukraine continues its campaign regardless.

The episode underscores how fragile the diplomatic track remains, with the US president publicly questioning Zelenskyy's approach even as Washington remains Kyiv's principal military backer.