‘It’s easier dealing with Trump than Putin,’ Zelenskyy tells Euronews amid US tensions

The disagreement was about both military tactics and political trust. Trump criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and called for new leadership in Ukraine. Zelenskyy rejected the idea that he was harder to deal with than Vladimir Putin. His response highlighted the difference between political friction with Washington and Russia’s direct invasion of Ukraine.

The immediate mechanism was pressure over energy infrastructure. Trump blamed Ukrainian strikes for helping raise global fuel prices. He also eased sanctions on Russian diesel, which Kyiv viewed as another sign that Washington wanted fewer economic and military pressures on Moscow. Zelenskyy answered that Ukraine had a lawful right to defend itself.

Zelenskyy said meetings with Trump still produced topics for discussion and decisions. He described Putin as unwilling to negotiate genuinely and accused him of blocking peace efforts. The disagreement therefore remains unresolved: Washington is pressing for restraint, while Kyiv says protecting its people and national interests must come first.

Sanctions are government-imposed restrictions on trade, money, technology, travel, or business dealings. They aim to reduce a country’s income and access to useful goods. In this case, sanctions are intended to limit Russia’s ability to finance its war and pressure Moscow toward ending it. They are an economic tool, not a battlefield attack.

The article gives several examples. Western countries have restricted Russian economic activity, while Trump decided to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. Zelenskyy warned that this could be followed by concessions involving gas, banks, individuals, and the chemical industry. These measures work by making sales, payments, investment, and international transactions harder or more expensive.

European leaders said they would maintain pressure. Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would not lift sanctions until Russia ended the war. António Costa called for greater pressure rather than concessions. Their position shows sanctions are also a negotiating signal, linking economic relief to Russian actions.

Oil and gas matter because they generate export income and tax revenue for Russia. The article does not provide a precise share of government revenue or war financing. Based on widely reported recent estimates, oil and gas have supplied roughly one-third of Russia’s federal budget revenue, although the percentage changes with prices, export volumes, and sanctions. This estimate comes from established outside reporting, not the article.

The mechanism is straightforward. Russia sells energy abroad, receives foreign currency and payments, and collects taxes and other state income from the sector. Those funds can support government salaries, public services, military procurement, and war-related spending. Restrictions on energy sales therefore seek to reduce the money available to Moscow.

The article warns that easing restrictions could weaken this pressure. Zelenskyy said diesel relief could be followed by gas deals and broader sanctions changes. European leaders instead called for continued pressure until Russia ends the war, showing energy policy remains tied to peace efforts.

Ukraine says strikes on Russian oil refineries are part of its right to defend itself. Zelenskyy argued that Russia attacked and occupied Ukrainian territory and killed Ukrainian people. He therefore said Ukraine could lawfully target infrastructure connected to Russia’s ability to continue the war. Trump, however, criticized the strikes and blamed them for contributing to higher global fuel prices.

Refineries turn crude oil into usable products such as diesel and gasoline. When a refinery is damaged, processing capacity can fall. That may reduce available fuel, force buyers to seek supplies elsewhere, and increase transport and production costs. Traders may also raise prices when they expect future shortages. The effect depends on the damage, stockpiles, replacement imports, and how quickly repairs occur.

The political dispute remains active. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would stand firm despite outside pressure. He did not say whether European leaders had supported more refinery attacks. Washington wants restraint, while Kyiv prioritizes military defense and pressure on Russia.

Sanctions are rarely isolated. They form a network of restrictions designed to limit Russia’s income, payments, companies, and access to international markets. If one major area is reopened, businesses and governments may argue that related restrictions are no longer necessary or should be treated similarly. That is why Zelenskyy warned about a possible chain of concessions.

His example began with Russian diesel. He said gas deals could follow, then relief involving banking, individuals, and the chemical industry. The mechanism is political as well as economic. A diesel agreement can create precedent, reduce bargaining pressure, and encourage affected sectors to request comparable treatment. It can also make enforcement more complicated if money moves through newly reopened channels.

Zelenskyy said such changes could weaken efforts to limit Moscow’s war financing. European leaders opposed that direction. Von der Leyen said the EU would not lift sanctions until Russia ended the war, while Costa called for increased pressure rather than further concessions.

Frozen Russian assets are Russian-owned funds or property that authorities have blocked from being transferred or used. The article does not identify their total value or specify every holder. In general, they remain connected to Russian owners but are controlled in practice by governments, courts, banks, or financial institutions in the jurisdictions where they are held. Freezing is different from permanently confiscating them.

These assets could enter negotiations because access to them has economic and political value. Western governments may keep them frozen to maintain pressure, discuss their possible use for Ukraine, or consider release as part of a settlement. Any move would involve legal, financial, and diplomatic questions. The article only states that Zelenskyy feared they could be at risk if concessions continued.

Zelenskyy said he needed to defend the issue diplomatically. European leaders meanwhile supported continued pressure on Moscow. If sanctions are eased without an end to the war, Kyiv fears Russia could regain access to assets and resources before a durable agreement is reached.

A country’s right to self-defence means it may respond to an armed attack and take necessary, proportionate steps to protect its people and territory. This principle does not provide unlimited permission to strike anything across a border. Attacks must be connected to the defensive aim and must respect rules protecting civilians and civilian objects. The article does not examine these legal tests in detail.

Zelenskyy said Russia attacked and occupied Ukraine and killed its people. He argued that Ukraine therefore had the right to defend itself, including through strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. The legal assessment would depend on the specific target, its military connection, the expected civilian harm, and whether the action was necessary and proportionate. Those facts are not provided here.

The principle is central to the dispute. Kyiv says it must stand firm despite pressure from Washington. Trump criticized the refinery strikes, while Zelenskyy called them lawful. The disagreement over targets and consequences remains unresolved.