Zelensky rallies EU support as Trump says Ukraine leader 'more difficult to deal with than Putin'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump, who claims the Ukrainian leader is more challenging to negotiate with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky, currently attending an EU summit in Brussels, had temporarily halted airstrikes on Russian oil refineries at Trump's request for a ceasefire on energy targets. However, the attacks resumed on Thursday as Russia continued its military operations in Ukraine.

Trump's comments come in the wake of a heightened US deal to import Russian diesel fuel, a move that Zelensky called a "gift to Putin." The Ukrainian leader has been meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and the prime ministers of several EU member states during the summit. He emphasized that Russia had not respected the energy ceasefire, leading to increased sanctions against Russia and a refusal to lift any sanctions until the war ends.