Trump’s remarks came Thursday after Kyiv announced it would no longer observe the energy ceasefire proposed by Washington, accusing Russia of continuing attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure.

The dispute has intensified disagreements between the two leaders as the Trump administration faces mounting domestic pressure over high fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Speaking during an interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, Trump accused Ukraine of contributing to rising global oil prices by targeting Russian energy facilities.

“If you tell me that Zelenskyy is again shooting at refineries, all he’s doing is making the world oil price higher,” Trump said.

“I think that’s a disgrace. There’s plenty of other targets; they don’t have to hit,” he added.

The president also expressed frustration with Zelenskyy’s approach to negotiations aimed at ending the war, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader was more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Zelenskyy is not a good guy for us to deal with” on the war, Trump said.

Although Trump suggested that both Russia and Ukraine wanted the conflict to end, he maintained that Zelenskyy presented a greater challenge to diplomatic efforts.

The latest confrontation follows Ukraine’s decision to resume strikes on Russian oil infrastructure after accusing Moscow of refusing to honor the proposed ceasefire.

Ukrainian officials argue that continued Russian attacks on the country’s power grid and other essential facilities make a unilateral suspension of strikes unacceptable.

Zelenskyy has also accused Washington of undermining Ukraine’s defense capabilities through arrangements with Moscow and reductions in critical American support.

Ukrainian officials have raised concerns about restrictions affecting the Starlink satellite communications service, which they say have disrupted military operations.

They have also warned that gaps in U.S. intelligence sharing have increased Ukraine’s vulnerability to Russian attacks.

The Ukrainian president has criticized the Trump administration’s approach, arguing that decisions affecting Kyiv’s military capabilities could have deadly consequences for civilians.

Meanwhile, the political implications of rising energy prices are becoming increasingly significant in the United States.

With the November midterm elections approaching, Trump and Republican lawmakers face growing pressure over fuel costs, a major concern for American households and businesses.

Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries have added another point of disagreement between Washington and Kyiv, particularly as the administration seeks to limit disruptions to international energy markets.

As tensions with Trump escalated, Zelenskyy traveled to Brussels on Friday to seek stronger backing from European allies during a major summit.

The Ukrainian leader praised European officials as “real leaders,” emphasizing the importance of continued international support for his country’s defense.

His visit comes as Kyiv seeks to strengthen military and diplomatic cooperation with European governments amid uncertainty over future American assistance.

The latest exchange highlights deepening divisions between Trump and Zelenskyy over how to pursue an end to the war, with energy security, military assistance and the protection of civilian infrastructure emerging as major points of contention.

For now, the prospects of reviving the proposed energy ceasefire remain uncertain as both Russia and Ukraine continue their military operations.