Trump calls Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian refineries a 'disgrace'

President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukraine late Thursday after Kyiv went back to hitting Russian oil refineries, calling the drone attacks a disgrace that only drive up the price of oil around the world.

Kyiv walks away from the truce

Ukraine said Thursday that it would stop honoring the energy ceasefire Trump declared on Sunday because Russia kept pounding Ukraine's power grid. Hours later a Ukrainian drone struck a refinery in Russia's Ryazan region. Neither side reported new refinery strikes on Friday.

In a television interview Thursday night, Trump said Ukraine has plenty of other targets it could choose. He said he believes both sides would like the war to end but finds Volodymyr Zelenskyy harder to deal with than Vladimir Putin.

Gas prices and the midterms

The White House has been leaning on Kyiv as fuel costs climb with the midterm elections less than three weeks away. Last week Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel, reversing years of U.S. policy. He then demanded that Ukraine stop hitting Russian oil sites and said the country needs a new leader.

Ukraine sees its long-range strikes as leverage. The attacks have caused a serious fuel crunch inside Russia and Kyiv hopes they will strengthen its hand in peace talks.

Satellite and intelligence worries

Ukrainian officials also sounded alarms this week after the military version of the Starlink satellite service slowed without warning. Two major Russian strikes also arrived without the usual heads-up from partners. Kyiv said Thursday the satellite link was being restored. A senior U.S. official said Trump never asked for limits and Trump has denied cutting off intelligence.

Zelenskyy was in Brussels on Friday seeking support from European leaders at a summit and praised them as real leaders. The Kremlin sided with Trump. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Zelenskyy refuses to take responsibility for moving toward peace.