President Donald Trump defended his decision to ease pressure on Russia and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of prolonging the war Sunday, hurling blame across the Atlantic even as members of his own party criticized Trump’s approach to Moscow.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump praised Russia for supplying diesel to global markets while claiming that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries were harming American farmers and businesses. He also claimed that Zelensky “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.”
The increasingly personal attacks threaten to further strain the U.S.-Ukraine alliance and complicate Trump’s efforts to broker an end to the war, now in its fifth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Rising tensions between Trump and Zelensky have played out in public, largely through television interviews and Trump’s posts to his social media network, Truth Social.
Zelensky’s own frustrations were evident Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” where he said that the decision to limit his country’s access to satellite internet — hindering its ability to fight — was made by the U.S. government, despite denials from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Zelensky’s concerns center on Starlink — owned by Trump ally Elon Musk — whose high-speed internet service plays a critical role in Ukraine’s military operations, including of internet-connected interceptor drones.
“Of course the message came from government. I don’t know from whom, what cabinet,” Zelensky said on the show. “… It’s opinion of our generals, of our government, and of course my also opinion … that it was a message from American government to limit the speed.”
Ukraine’s armed forces rely on a secure, militarized version of Starlink called Starshield. Musk, in a social media post last week, clarified that Starshield is controlled by the U.S. government. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote.
Trump has denied involvement. “I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump told reporters Friday. “And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.” Rubio echoed the denial a day later, saying: “Nobody ordered that Starlink speed to be slowed down. It sort of happened.”
But Trump aimed his ire back at Zelensky on Sunday, saying Ukraine is targeting Russian diesel refineries “knowing that these attacks are seriously hurting the world diesel markets, including those in the United States.” Trump said that Russia, conversely, was “sending, at a low price, millions of barrels of diesel to the world.”
“Zelenskyy doesn’t care,” Trump wrote.
The spat also underscored the competing pressures facing Trump less than three weeks before the midterm elections: voters anxious about rising costs; and critics, including members of his own party, who warn that easing sanctions on Russia will embolden Putin.
The lawmaker backlash came after Trump announced a deal this month for Russia to supply diesel fuel to the global marketplace.
Several legislators also criticized an executive order Trump signed Friday night that puts on hold a sweeping set of sanctions against Russia. The sanctions had been scheduled to take effect Sunday under a bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) that Trump signed into law.
Sen. Darline Graham (R-South Carolina), whose brother championed the sanctions legislation, said she would have preferred to maintain economic pressure on Moscow.
“Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia,” she said, “because I don’t trust Putin and I don’t trust Russia.”
Trump defended his actions Sunday, saying he is seeking to negotiate a peace deal and does not want to “do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table.”
“Great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations!” Trump wrote in the Truth Social post.
The U.S. and its European allies have largely been united in their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. But the alliance has grown uneasy under Trump, who has shown increasing public frustration with Zelensky, including a tense Oval Office confrontation early in Trump’s second term.
Amid the recent tensions with Trump, Zelensky told “Meet the Press” it would be “a historic mistake and a big tragedy” if the U.S. were to side with Russian in the conflict.
“That’s why we hope that president, his team, will be on our side, minimum in the middle,” he said.
Zelensky said of Trump: “We want to trust him, and I hope that he will change his decisions.”
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What readers are saying:
The comments overwhelmingly criticize President Donald Trump for his perceived support of Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, in the conflict with Ukraine. Many commenters express outrage at Trump's actions, suggesting he is undermining Ukraine's efforts to defend itself?
"The comments overwhelmingly criticize President Donald Trump for his perceived support of Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, in the conflict with Ukraine. Many commenters express outrage at Trump's actions, suggesting he is undermining Ukraine's efforts to defend itself and questioning his motives, with some labeling him a traitor or a Russian asset. There is also frustration with the portrayal of the situation as a "feud" between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, emphasizing that Zelensky is focused on defending his country."
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