European leaders are preparing to urge Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to soften his public attacks on Donald Trump, amid growing concern that his comments could further strain relations between Washington and Kyiv.
Zelensky has spoken out repeatedly against the US president this week after a series of decisions left Ukraine facing increased pressure as Russia’s offensive continues.
He criticised Trump’s agreement with Moscow, under which the United States eased sanctions on Russian diesel exports and announced an energy ceasefire intended to help bring down fuel prices before the US midterm elections.
The Ukrainian leader also described Washington’s decision to halt intelligence sharing and reduce support for the Starlink satellite network as “dangerous”, particularly as Russian forces intensify their attacks across Ukraine.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky accused Trump of showing an instinctive respect for authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin. “He speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people,” Zelensky said, arguing that Trump appears to associate long-serving leaders with strength.
The unusually direct criticism has unsettled several European leaders, who are due to meet Zelensky as tensions between Ukraine and the Trump administration continue to rise.
During the discussions, the Ukrainian president is expected to be encouraged to moderate his public language when addressing Trump and his administration.
One official told the Financial Times that the message would be delivered with understanding but also firmness. “It might be true, but it doesn’t always need to be said out loud,” the official said.
A serviceman puts out a burning car struck by a Russian FPV drone during Russia’s attack on Ukraine in the Donetsk region on October 14, 2026.
European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speak to the media during the second day of a two-day European Council summit in Brussels on October 16, 2026.
Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticised Donald Trump after a string of US decisions that have placed Ukraine under renewed pressure.
Despite the unease over Zelensky’s remarks, European Council President Antonio Costa publicly backed Kyiv on Wednesday, calling for stronger pressure on Russia and continued support for Ukraine as tensions with Washington mount.
“This is no time to withdraw support from Ukraine. This is no time to ease sanctions on Russia. Now is the time to increase our support and strengthen the pressure,” Costa told reporters alongside Zelensky as they arrived at the EU summit in Brussels.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also reaffirmed Berlin’s backing for Kyiv on Thursday. “We want to continue helping Ukraine, and I am pleased that Zelenskyy will be with us,” he said.
“We must do everything in our power to support Ukraine. It remains my firm conviction that we are not merely defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity; we are defending Europe’s political order, which Russia is currently placing under intense pressure in every respect.”
Even after Trump announced an energy ceasefire, Zelensky renewed his criticism of Putin’s oil infrastructure. His comments came after he expressed anger at what he viewed as Trump’s “betrayal” while Russian attacks on Ukraine remained intense.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Zelensky said the simultaneous suspension of US intelligence cooperation and weakening of Starlink’s satellite internet service posed a serious danger to Ukrainian civilians.
He also rejected any suggestion that Ukraine had agreed to stop targeting Russian refineries. “The block on attacking refineries is out. We’re done,” Zelensky said.
On Thursday, a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Ryazan region sparked a fire at a major oil refinery. It was the first Ukrainian attack on an energy site since Trump unexpectedly announced the “energy ceasefire” on Sunday.
A store in Ukraine’s Odesa region was partly destroyed and three people were injured in a jet-powered Shahed drone attack, which Zelensky condemned as an act of “bloody terror”.
Separately, a fuel terminal spectacularly reignited after blazing for five days in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia.
Zelensky had paused energy strikes for three days to comply with US wishes but said he would now resume them because Mr Putin was still attacking Ukraine’s essential infrastructure.
Mr Putin vowed revenge following the attack at the refinery, which accounts for almost 5 per cent of Russia’s total oil refining throughput.
Moscow responded by obliterating a Ukrainian supermarket in a drone strike on Thursday.
The store in the Odesa region was partially destroyed and three people were injured in the jet-powered Shahed drone attack, which Zelensky condemned as an act of ‘bloody terror’.
A Russian drone strike on Ukraine’s city of Kharkiv killed three people and injured at least five on Friday.
Emergency services were working at the scene and the injured were receiving medical assistance.