Zelenskyy Rallies EU Support in Brussels as Trump Calls Ukrainian Leader 'More Difficult to Deal With Than Putin'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rallied European backing at an EU leaders' summit in Brussels on Friday, October 16, 2026, just hours after US President Donald Trump publicly criticized him and defended a controversial energy deal with Moscow.

The public rift between Washington and Kyiv deepened over a collapsed energy ceasefire, restrictions on the US-owned Starlink and Starshield satellite networks, and a newly brokered US-Russia agreement to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel to global markets. While EU leadership pledged steadfast backing for Ukraine heading into its fifth winter of the war, the Trump administration accused Kyiv of driving up global oil prices through continued strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Who is affected by the breakdown of the energy ceasefire?

Ukraine's civilian population faces immediate danger as Russia targets critical utilities ahead of winter, while global energy markets react to shifting geopolitical alignments.

Local governors reported via the BBC that 270,000 households in Volyn were left without power following deadly Russian strikes. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated at the Brussels summit that "Russia is trying everything to destroy the energy and water infrastructure." Von der Leyen added that the EU supported the energy ceasefire proposed by the Trump administration last week, but noted that "Russia did not respect it, not a single minute... Russia escalated and therefore we have to increase sanctions on Russia."

President Trump had abruptly announced an energy ceasefire forbidding mutual strikes on energy infrastructure to lower US fuel and diesel prices spiked by the war in Iran. Kyiv paused attacks for three days before resuming them, prompting Trump to label the renewed strikes a "disgrace" during a Thursday evening interview on Newsmax. Trump added that Zelenskyy was "not a good guy for us to deal with" and claimed that "all he's doing is making the world oil price higher."

What was discussed at the EU leaders' summit in Brussels?

EU leaders met in Brussels to construct a winter package covering energy, defense, and funding, alongside preparations for a 22nd package of Russian sanctions against Moscow.

European Council President António Costa declared at the summit that "this is no time to withdraw support" and "no time to relieve Russian sanctions." Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko previously agreed with European partners on a $27-billion deficit in Ukraine's current military spending, leaving a $32.6-billion unfunded budget gap for next year. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever noted that Zelenskyy "will probably look everybody straight in the eye and say, thank you for the $90-billion, but that money is going to run out because a war is a very costly thing."

Addressing the European Council, Zelenskyy reported that the cost of the war for Ukraine next year will reach €155bn (£131bn; $174bn), requiring a minimum of €70bn from the EU for defense and weapons. Zelenskyy thanked European leaders, stating: "I'm so thankful that we have such huge support from EU Council, Commission and leaders, real leaders, so that they stay with us from the very beginning of this war."

Why are US-Ukraine tensions escalating?

Tensions escalated due to disagreements over the diesel trade, restrictions on military logistics, and potential intelligence-sharing cutbacks.

Kyiv strongly opposed the US-Russia diesel agreement, arguing it funnels revenue directly into Russian war coffers. Compounding the strain, a source in Ukraine's defense ministry reported to the Saudi Gazette that SpaceX Starshield receptors experienced disrupted speeds operating at 100 miles per hour (160 kph), which Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, noted could not be easily replaced by Europe in the short term. Zelenskyy called the restrictions "dangerous and unpleasant surprise." While a US official denied that the Trump administration ordered a deliberate slowdown, and Elon Musk stated earlier in the week that any limitations were up to the US president, Trump also insisted the US had not cut off intelligence sharing, despite earlier warnings from Kyiv.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, welcomed the friction, stating that Zelenskyy has "no desire" for a peaceful resolution and that "on that point, we are in complete agreement with President Trump."