Zelenskyy Accuses Trump of Taking ‘Wrong Side’ Over Russia Diesel Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised Donald Trump’s diesel supply deal with Russia, accusing the US president of siding with Moscow while Ukraine faces continued attacks on its energy infrastructure.

Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Wednesday, Zelenskyy appealed for American support and questioned whether Washington was maintaining the neutral position Trump has claimed in efforts to end the war.

“It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side,” Zelenskyy said, according to the New York Post. “But we are okay that he’s in the middle. But if you’re in the middle, you have to stay in the middle. Not on the wrong side.”

He also questioned the advice reaching the US president.

“I think his advisers are wrong. I don’t know who is pushing him. Not to the right side; this is not the right side of history,” he said.

‘WE ARE LOSING A STRONG PARTNER’

Zelenskyy’s criticism followed Trump’s announcement of an arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the immediate supply of more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel.

The announcement referred to supplies for the United States and global markets. Trump subsequently maintained that the fuel was intended for the wider international market rather than the US, arguing that additional supplies would help lower energy prices.

For Zelenskyy, the arrangement raised concerns about the direction of American support.

“It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner,” he said.

KYIV BACKS ENERGY TRUCE, ACCUSES MOSCOW OF BREAKING IT

Despite his criticism, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had supported an energy ceasefire as a step towards de-escalation and a way to protect civilians through winter.

“Our country has to survive, and we count on our real partners, strategic partners, the United States and President Trump,” he said.

He described the limited truce as “the worst version of peace”, but said Kyiv nevertheless regarded it as progress towards ending the fighting.

“Of course, we support it because we need our people to live, to go through this winter and to stop the war. This is what we want,” he said.

Zelenskyy claimed Ukraine had refrained from attacking energy facilities for three days, including withholding retaliatory strikes, while Russia continued to target Ukrainian infrastructure.

“We didn’t, not just attack, we didn’t respond… They attacked us, our gas stations, infrastructure, etc.,” he said.

STRIKES CAST DOUBT ON CEASEFIRE

Earlier on Wednesday, Zelenskyy alleged that an overnight Russian assault on energy and critical infrastructure had left at least 600,000 people without electricity.

In a post on X, he said ballistic missiles and attack drones had targeted facilities in Kyiv, the surrounding region and Kharkiv.

The allegations followed Trump’s October 11 announcement that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His announcement did not spell out the agreement’s scope or how compliance would be monitored.

Kyiv has since called for stronger international pressure on Moscow and additional military assistance to protect its infrastructure, arguing that continued Russian attacks undermine the proposed truce.

With inputs from ANI