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Zelenskyy scolds Trump as he defies president on world stage
October 18, 2026 8:51AM ET
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 16, 2026. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued President Donald Trump a fierce rebuke Sunday after striking a Russian oil terminal just days after the U.S. president demanded a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.
In what Russian state media called “one of the biggest drone attacks of the year,” Ukraine struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Sunday — just one week after Trump claimed that a ceasefire had been brokered between Ukraine and Russia to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
Three days after Trump’s ceasefire announcement, Ukraine’s access to Starlink — the internet service provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX — was abruptly restricted, with subsequent reporting suggesting that the order to limit Starlink services came directly from the White House.
Zelenskyy has since broken with Trump publicly, and on Sunday issued a scathing message in defense of Ukraine’s latest attack on Russian energy infrastructure.
“In total, over this past week, the Russians have attacked Ukraine with almost 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs, and 66 missiles, most of them ballistic,” Zelenskyy said in a statement.
“The main targets of these strikes are energy facilities – the Russians are trying to cause a blackout. And America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements. On the contrary, they take every signal of an opportunity to make money as proof that their bet on war is paying off and they can keep fighting.”
Trump has increasingly pressed Zelenskyy to cede territory to Russia in his bid to end the Russo-Ukraine war. Zelenskyy has refused, sparking a threat from Trump to cut Ukraine off from U.S. intelligence.
“It is because of this position of Russia’s that the war continues, not because Ukraine is rightfully defending itself,” Zelenskyy continued. “It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance. Thank you to everyone who understands this and helps.”
Since the American President announced the energy ceasefire a week ago, Russia has deliberately attacked Ukraine’s energy and oil and gas sectors 76 times. Last night alone, there were strikes on substations in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions. Tens of thousands of families remain without power. Energy workers and repair crews are working virtually around the clock to restore electricity supply. Overnight, the Russians also struck residential buildings in our regions. As of now, 12 people have been reported injured, including two children. Two people have been killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. This morning, there was a strike on an agricultural enterprise in Volyn. All necessary services are working at the site.In total, over this past week, the Russians have attacked Ukraine with almost 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs, and 66 missiles, most of them ballistic. The main targets of these strikes are energy facilities – the Russians are trying to cause a blackout. And America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements. On the contrary, they take every signal of an opportunity to make money as proof that their bet on war is paying off and they can keep fighting. It is because of this position of Russia’s that the war continues, not because Ukraine is rightfully defending itself. It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance. Thank you to everyone who understands this and helps.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 18, 2026
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