Trump describes renewed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries as ‘a disgrace’

US President Donald Trump has described Ukraine’s renewed attacks on Russian oil refineries as “a disgrace”, saying the strikes are pushing up global energy prices.

In an interview with broadcaster Newsmax published on Thursday, Trump made the remarks when asked about Ukraine’s latest attacks on Russian oil facilities.

“Well, I think that’s a disgrace,” Trump told Newsmax when asked about Ukraine’s renewed strikes, adding that they were driving up global energy prices.

The 80-year-old US president also criticised his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he was less willing than Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a compromise to end the war.

“It should end soon. I think they actually both would like to see it end,” Trump said to Newsmax.

“But I think I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin.”

Amid strained relations with Trump, Zelensky met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels and held several bilateral meetings with European leaders ahead of his planned participation in an EU summit on Friday.

The Ukrainian president had told the Financial Times that the pause in attacks on Russian oil refineries was “done”, arguing that Moscow was not complying with a ceasefire on strikes against energy infrastructure announced by Trump.