Zelensky says Ukraine has right to defend itself after Trump criticism
US President Donald Trump has renewed his sharp criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky, saying the Ukrainian leader is "more difficult to deal with than [Russian President Vladimir] Putin".
Speaking to US media on Thursday evening, Trump also called Ukraine's fresh wave of strikes on Russian oil refineries a "disgrace".
Zelensky, who is in Brussels for a summit with EU leaders, had paused the attacks for three days at Trump's request for a ceasefire on energy targets, but said on Thursday the strikes would resume because Moscow had never stopped.
Meanwhile, deadly attacks on Ukraine continued overnight, with several people killed in a Russian drone strike in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, the regional governor said.
Zelensky has not commented on Trump's latest criticism. He arrived at the summit in Brussels flanked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
"Of course we supported President Trump's energy ceasefire but we've seen that Russia did not respect it, not a single minute," Von der Leyen told reporters. "Russia escalated and therefore we have to increase sanctions on Russia... We will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war."
Moscow said it had never agreed to the energy ceasefire that Trump suddenly announced last week.
The EU summit's agenda will focus on funding for Ukraine, and helping it get through another cold winter - the fifth since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"Russia is trying everything to destroy the energy and water infrastructure," Von der Leyen told Zelensky before the summit began, "but we stand by your side, we support you as we did in the other winters."
Zelensky said his country wants the war to end "as quick as possible", but added that Russia is not showing signals that it wants the same thing.
"That's why we have to prepare for the winter. A winter package is not only energy, it's also defence and fundings," he said.
Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking oil refinery after Zelensky says strikes to resume
Trump's comments about Zelensky, during an interview with US outlet Newsmax, reflect the deteriorating relationship between the US and Ukraine.
The US president said he is "not a big fan of Zelensky" and that he is "not a good guy for us to deal with.
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