Ukraine and US Face New Friction Over Russia Strategy
Goldlaner.com – Tensions between Kyiv and Washington are deepening as disagreements emerge over military tactics, sanctions policy and the terms of any future peace agreement with Russia. The strain has become increasingly personal, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump publicly questioning each other’s approach to the war.
Ukraine has continued long-range drone operations against targets inside Russia despite Trump’s request that Kyiv halt attacks on Russian refining facilities. Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces carried out one of their largest drone offensives of the year, including a strike on the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, a major facility capable of handling up to 12.5 million tons annually.
Fire Point, the Ukrainian company that produces drones used in the operation, said a fire broke out within the terminal’s grounds after the attack. The strike underscored Kyiv’s determination to target infrastructure it views as helping finance and sustain Russia’s invasion.
Oil prices and election pressure
Trump’s opposition to strikes on Russian energy infrastructure is tied in part to concerns about fuel costs in the United States. The White House is seeking to ease pressure on oil and diesel prices ahead of important midterm elections, with diesel prices at record levels.
Last week, Trump described Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries as a “disgrace” and said Zelensky had become harder to negotiate with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump repeated his criticism on Sunday in a Truth Social post, arguing that Zelensky did not want the war to end.
“He doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.”
Trump has also defended concessions on sanctions involving Russia. Those steps include a waiver permitting Russian diesel exports and another exemption from broad economic penalties required by the US Congress. He argued that additional pressure could undermine efforts to bring Moscow into negotiations.
“I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table.”
Zelensky pushes back
Zelensky has maintained that Ukraine supports diplomacy, provided any settlement includes credible security guarantees. He said Sunday that he had spoken with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as part of what he called continuous contact aimed at advancing peace efforts.
“We are doing everything on our part to make this happen, and to ensure that America’s position is strong and helps bring peace closer.”
In a message posted Monday, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine did not choose the conflict and had supported every meaningful effort by its partners to end it honorably. His comments reflected Kyiv’s concern that pressure for a rapid agreement could overlook Ukraine’s security needs or reward Russian military aggression.
During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Zelensky said the sanctions waivers were helping Putin continue the war despite Moscow’s difficulties on the battlefield. He warned that alignment between Washington and Moscow would amount to a “historic mistake.” Asked whether Trump remained an ally of Ukraine, Zelensky answered cautiously.
“I hope so.”
Zelensky also appeared to criticize Trump’s posture toward Russia in remarks made Sunday, contrasting candid partners with people responsible for killing while presenting a friendly image.
“Better to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers, even with a smile on their face.”
Questions over peace talks
Kyiv is particularly uneasy about discussion of a possible meeting next month involving the United States and China on the conflict without Ukrainian participation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a Monday visit to Uzbekistan, said talk of such a gathering had taken place but that nothing had been finalized.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha argued that excluding Ukraine would not move peace closer. Instead, he said, it could encourage Putin to prolong the war and elevate his standing.
“Inviting Putin to such a meeting would feed his appetite for self-aggrandizement and give him a stature he does not deserve.”
The Kremlin said Monday that no specific proposals or agreements had been presented concerning either a meeting or a possible agenda.
The dispute illustrates a central challenge in the relationship: Washington is focused on creating conditions for negotiations, while Kyiv fears that concessions made to secure Russian participation could weaken Ukraine’s position. For Ukraine, strikes on energy infrastructure are part of its effort to impose costs on Russia’s war machine. For the Trump administration, those attacks risk complicating fuel markets and diplomatic outreach.
Humanitarian concerns remain urgent
The pressure surrounding diplomacy comes as civilians continue to face severe conditions in occupied areas. Zelensky spoke with Pope Leo XIV on Monday. The conversation followed the pope’s recent call with Putin, during which he raised concern over the grave humanitarian situation in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city.
Ukrainian authorities say roughly 2,000 civilians in Oleshky are trapped without food or essential medicine. The situation highlights the human stakes behind the dispute over sanctions, battlefield operations and negotiations.
Relations between Trump and Zelensky now appear to be at their weakest point since their explosive White House meeting 18 months ago. Yet both sides continue to describe peace as the objective. The unresolved question is whether they can agree on a path that ends the war without leaving Ukraine exposed to renewed Russian pressure.
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