Zelensky rallies European allies as Trump ties slump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been working to rally European allies after falling out with US President Donald Trump. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated since Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets. This has heightened anger in Ukraine due to outages to a critical US-provided satellite system that has impacted its military's ability to counter Russia's intense bombardments.

Zelensky met NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels and held multiple bilateral meetings with European leaders before participating in an EU summit. He emphasized the need for strong signals, more pressure on Russia, and increased defense support for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of Ukraine receiving all necessary means to protect itself.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed support for Ukraine, stating they are not alone in their struggles. Zelensky revealed that Ukraine would no longer refrain from targeting Russian refineries as Moscow was not adhering to a US-imposed ceasefire on energy infrastructure. The Kremlin accused Ukraine of derailing US peace efforts by resuming strikes on refineries, claiming it conflicts with American negotiators' efforts to initiate peace.

Residents in Kyiv expressed a sense of change in Washington's attitude towards Ukraine, with civilians enduring nighttime attacks and power outages. The launch of strikes against Russian oil refineries has also caused outrage in Ukraine, with much of the frustration stemming from restrictions on the Starshield satellite communications system that Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications and defense coordination.