Zelenskyy: Ukraine Has Right to Defend Itself After Trump Criticism
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is merely "standing up for Ukraine's interests" in response to the scathing criticism from former US President Donald Trump. Trump had accused Zelenskyy of being more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized Kyiv's recent wave of strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Zelenskyy questioned the recent deal between the US and Russia to import diesel, expressing concerns about a potential follow-up gas agreement. "If I don't stand up to this... who else will do this?" he asked.
The tension between Washington and Kyiv escalated due to the diesel deal and restrictions on Ukraine's battlefield satellite network. However, Zelenskyy expressed hope for upcoming negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials.
A significant moment occurred during a news conference after the EU summit when a journalist asked Zelenskyy if he felt Trump was using him as a scapegoat for his political issues. After a prolonged silence, Zelenskyy responded with a grin, "This is my answer," eliciting laughter from the gathered journalists.
Accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Europe's "real leaders" for their support.
Trump had heavily criticized Zelenskyy for resuming strikes on Russian oil refineries after he unexpectedly declared a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire on energy infrastructure last week. Kyiv paused the strikes in response but resumed them when Russia failed to honor the agreement.
Von der Leyen emphasized the need for increased sanctions against Russia, stating, "Sanctions [had] to increase." The summit focused on providing Ukraine with funding and assistance to endure another harsh winter, the fifth since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskyy emphasized his country's desire for the war to end swiftly but noted a lack of signs from Russia indicating a desire for peace. He called for a "winter package" that includes energy, defense, and funding.
Despite Zelenskyy's pleas, deadly attacks on Ukraine continued, with several fatalities in a Russian drone strike on Kharkiv and power outages affecting nearly 270,000 households in Volyn, according to local governors.