Trump Criticizes Zelensky Following Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries

President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 16, 2026, after Ukraine conducted new strikes on Russian oil refineries. In an interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, Trump stated, "I’m not a big fan of Zelensky," and criticized the destruction in Ukraine, saying, "They’ve destroyed that country." Trump had announced an energy ceasefire earlier in the week, aimed at preventing further attacks on energy infrastructure, but noted that it was ineffective as Russia did not agree to it. Ukraine initially complied with the ceasefire before resuming strikes against Russia. Following the announcement of the ceasefire, Moscow carried out strikes on Kyiv. Trump remarked, "Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with," and attributed blame to former President Joe Biden for providing Zelensky with substantial aid. Trump also criticized former President Barack Obama for allowing Russia to annex Crimea in 2014, suggesting this led to a lack of respect from Putin towards the U.S. Trump has been attempting to facilitate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict since his return to the White House, but noted the difficulty due to the animosity between Putin and Zelensky. He expressed that if a settlement is to occur, Zelensky should not be involved as he "doesn’t want to settle." Trump indicated that both leaders desire an end to the conflict but finds it "more difficult to deal with" Zelensky than with Putin. Recently, Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for his more favorable remarks about Putin and called for Zelensky to resign and allow for a new presidential election in Ukraine, contingent on a ceasefire agreement with Russia. Tensions have also arisen over U.S. intelligence and military support for Ukraine, with reports indicating restrictions on access to the Starshield satellite network, which is owned by the Department of War. The decision to limit this support reportedly originated from the White House, although it remains unclear if Trump personally authorized it. In the interview, Trump reiterated sentiments expressed by a Ukrainian woman who criticized Zelensky, stating, "President Zelensky has destroyed our country," and highlighting the toll of the war on Ukrainian men.