Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on Thursday to meet with European Union leaders, seeking continued financial and military backing as Ukraine faces its fifth winter since the full-scale invasion began. The visit comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Kyiv and Washington, following renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Trump calls Zelensky difficult to deal with
Speaking to US media outlet Newsmax on Thursday evening, Trump renewed his attacks on the Ukrainian president, stating he was “more difficult to deal with than [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.” He added that he is “not a big fan of Zelensky” and described him as “not a good guy for us to deal with.” Trump claimed that Zelensky does not genuinely want to settle the conflict, despite public statements to the contrary.
The US president also condemned Ukraine’s recent resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries, calling the actions “a disgrace.” Trump argued that these attacks were driving up global oil prices, a concern heightened by a recent US deal to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel to lower domestic fuel costs. Zelensky had previously criticized that import deal as a “gift to Putin.”
Trump had previously requested a three-day ceasefire on energy targets, which Zelensky honored. However, the Ukrainian president announced on Thursday that strikes would resume because Moscow had never respected the pause. Moscow has denied ever agreeing to the ceasefire.
EU leaders pledge winter support
At the summit in Brussels, Zelensky was flanked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. The agenda focused heavily on funding to help Ukraine survive the coming winter, including energy infrastructure and defense support.
Von der Leyen told reporters that the EU would not lift sanctions on Russia until the war ends. “Of course we supported President Trump’s energy ceasefire but we’ve seen that Russia did not respect it, not a single minute,” she said. “Russia escalated and therefore we have to increase sanctions on Russia.”
Before the summit began, von der Leyen assured Zelensky that the EU stood by Ukraine. “Russia is trying everything to destroy the energy and water infrastructure,” she said. “But we stand by your side, we support you as we did in the other winters.” Zelensky emphasized that the upcoming “winter package” would include not just energy aid but also defense funding, noting that Russia showed no signs of wanting to end the war quickly.
Ongoing attacks and diplomatic meetings
Tensions remain high as fighting continues. Overnight, a Russian drone strike in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv killed several people and injured at least 19, according to regional governor Oleg Synegubov. Ukraine also reported intercepting 94 drones approaching Moscow and 644 drones across 26 Russian regions, with airspace above the Russian capital closed for several hours.
During his time in Brussels, Zelensky held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as well as leaders from Poland, France, Denmark, and Belgium. He is scheduled to meet with the heads of the European Council and Commission, along with the prime ministers of Hungary, Finland, and Sweden, on Friday.
The diplomatic friction with the US has intensified recently. The Trump administration had warned it could withhold intelligence sharing if Kyiv continued targeting Russian oil refineries. Additionally, restrictions were placed on the US-owned Starlink internet network earlier in the week, which coincided with deadly Russian strikes that residents said occurred with no prior warning.
Zelensky has not publicly commented on Trump’s latest remarks. His focus remains on securing the necessary resources from European allies to maintain defenses and infrastructure as the conflict enters another harsh season.
Source: BBC
