Zelensky rallies EU support as Trump criticizes Ukraine leader

Trump labels Zelensky more difficult than Putin

US President Donald Trump stated in an interview with Newsmax, published on Thursday, 15 October 2026, that he finds President Zelensky more difficult to deal with than Vladimir Putin.

Mr Trump also labelled the renewed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries a "disgrace".

He claimed these military actions are causing global energy prices to rise.

Kyiv resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries

President Zelensky told the Financial Times that the pause in strikes on Russian refineries is "done" because Moscow failed to honour a ceasefire regarding energy infrastructure.

Kyiv has confirmed it will no longer abide by US demands to avoid such strikes.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of derailing US peace efforts, noting that these actions conflict with American negotiators.

Russian authorities reported a drone attack on an oil refinery south of Moscow that resulted in a fire.

European leaders and NATO pledge solidarity

President Zelensky met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

He also held a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders ahead of the EU summit on Friday.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that it is crucial for Ukraine to receive all necessary means to protect itself.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a message online to the Ukrainian president and his citizens, stating, "YOU ARE NOT ALONE".

Starshield satellite outages hamper military operations

The Ukrainian military's ability to counter Russian bombardments has been hampered by outages to the US-provided Starshield satellite system.

Officials reported that the system experienced slower speeds on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, which affected connectivity.

The Starshield system is used by Ukraine for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes, and interceptor drones.

President Zelensky stated that Russia is taking advantage of problems with Starlink operations.

He also reported that the Kremlin launched a drone strike on energy infrastructure in the city of Lutsk, causing blackouts.

Elon Musk stated that his company, SpaceX, was not behind the disruptions.

Mr Musk explained that the Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government.

He added that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the US President.

US-Ukraine diplomatic relations sour over sanctions

Diplomatic relations between Washington and Kyiv have worsened since the week of 9 October 2026.

This decline followed President Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets.

Defence officials have confirmed that the United States threatened to withdraw intelligence-sharing if Ukraine continued its long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Kyiv residents report changing atmosphere

Alyona Nikitina, a 30-year-old resident of Kyiv, told AFP that local citizens feel a change in Washington's attitude towards Ukraine.

She noted that this sentiment is driven by the ongoing nighttime attacks and associated blackouts.

Zelensky calls for increased pressure on Russia

President Zelensky stated online that all of Europe wants the war to end.

He called for stronger signals, including more real pressure on Russia and increased defence support for Ukraine.