On October 16, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation in Ukraine, particularly the resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries. According to him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not someone the United States should be dealing with.
Trump's Comments on Zelensky
In an interview with Newsmax host, Trump stated that negotiating with Zelensky is harder than with Putin. He emphasized that, in his opinion, there will eventually be some resolution between Ukraine and Russia, but not with Zelensky involved.
Criticism of Zelensky
Trump did not directly answer the question about his disappointment with Zelensky, but expressed the view that the Ukrainian president does not want to reach an agreement. According to Trump, Zelensky talks about wanting to negotiate but does not actually do so. He also noted that there is significant animosity between Zelensky and Putin, complicating the possibility of achieving peace.
Responsibility for the War
Trump again blamed his predecessors for being responsible for the start of the war in Ukraine, claiming that this war should not have happened. He highlighted that the situation in Ukraine is a result of the poor policies of past administrations.