Trump: It’s Harder to Work with Zelensky Than Putin

October 20, 2026

“I think it’s a disgrace,” the American president told Newsmax, which was interviewing him about the announcement of this resumption that had been made earlier in the day. “There are many other targets possible,” he added. “I think it’s harder to work with Zelensky than with Putin,” he said.

“Everything that Zelensky does,” “is only to push up the global price of oil,” Trump charged, against a backdrop of renewed tensions between Washington and Kyiv, which worried about the durability of American support, or even about U.S. aid to Russia.

Earlier on Thursday, Zelensky told the Financial Times that the Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries had a ceasefire that was now “lifted,” defying Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy truce for which Moscow had not given its consent.

“When you strike diesel refineries, … you’re not doing the world any favors,” Trump insisted.

“Zelensky is not the right person for us to reach an agreement with,” the American president once again denounced on Newsmax: “He says he wants to make a deal, but he doesn’t want it. I don’t like him very much.”

Ethan Calloway

I'm a journalist and writer with a passion for international affairs, politics, and the forces shaping our global economy. Based on the U.S. West Coast, I explore the stories connecting nations and communities, with a particular interest in the Pacific region. At Island Society, my goal is to bring fresh perspectives, meaningful context, and a human voice to the issues that matter.