Trump accuses Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war with Russia
As Ukraine struck more Russian oil infrastructure, President Trump accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war with RUssia
Key points
- Trump said on Truth Social that Zelenskyy does not want to end the war and probably never did.
- Trump held off new sanctions on Russia to avoid driving it away from the bargaining table.
- Russia said it intercepted more than 1,015 Ukrainian drones over 15 regions, Crimea and the Black Sea.
President Trump said Sunday he is negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war. In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for targeting diesel refineries in Russia and said he "doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did."
Trump also said he decided to hold off on new sanctions on Russia because he does not want to do anything that would drive Russia away from the bargaining table. He said great progress is being made, including current hostage negotiations, and that he can sign the document later.
Zelenskyy responds to Trump
Zelenskyy said he trusts Trump but that siding with Moscow would be a tragedy and a "historic mistake" for Washington. He said Putin is an aggressor and a terrorist and that he hopes Trump will be very clear on this position.
Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Zelenskyy said waiving sanctions against Russia would strengthen Putin's war effort. He also said U.S.-Ukraine intelligence sharing had resumed after being blocked for some period of time.
He could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now.
— President Trump
Weekend strikes continue
Ukraine and Russia kept trading strikes over the weekend. Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted more than 1,015 Ukrainian drones over 15 Russian regions, Crimea and the Black Sea.
Local government said at least one person was killed and five wounded in an attack on St. Petersburg that sparked fires at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot. In Zaporizhzhia, a woman was killed and a 6-year-old girl was among at least two others wounded in two Russian attacks, local officials said.
