Brussels; October 2026: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lambasted US President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia and welcomed the prospect of European allies stepping up their role in talks, calling Moscow's stance a "parody" of peace negotiations. At a European Union summit, Zelensky said Russia did not want peace. He added that Ukraine was still experiencing disruptions to the SpaceX Starshield satellite system used for battlefield operations and to down Russian drones attacking cities far from the frontline.
European Union leaders have advocated their unwavering support for the Ukrainian President, after President Donald Trump once again have criticised Ukraine, calling its strikes on Russian refineries a "disgrace". On arriving at the summit, Volodymyr Zelensky pointedly referred to his counterparts there as "real leaders". The EU was hosting Zelensky at one of the most difficult moments for Ukraine, with missiles and drones raining down on Ukrainian cities and fears that the US could pull back intelligence sharing and weapons support from Ukraine.
On the otherside, the Ukrainian President’s reluctance in coming to Trump’s terms was evitably lauded by the EU leaders. Asked at a press conference whether he felt he was being used as a scapegoat by Trump for high energy prices and the trajectory of the Iran war, Zelensky paused for a long time, smiled, and said "this is my answer", adding unintermittent laughter inside the room.
Last weekend, Donald Trump had bemused Zelensky by announcing that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities. Facing US midterm elections this November (2026), Trump has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for pushing up energy prices that could cost him at the ballot box. His diesel deal with Russia angered Ukraine and European allies.
"And now we can see how cash will start flowing back into Russia through the diesel deal", Zelensky told the press conference on the sidelines of the summit. "This diesel deal will never be enough to offset the impact of the Strait of Hormuz on global markets. But it will put more money straight into Putin’s pocket to fund this war". Zelensky has also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not being interested in peace talks in any form.
"Putin does not want peace talks at the moment, in any form", Zelensky said. "He's playing with words, claiming they respond. Quite simply, it looks like a parody of a genuine desire to end the war".
Meanwhile in the latest attacks in Ukraine, Russian drone strikes on the city of Kharkiv killed 03 people, while strikes elsewhere left hundreds of thousands of people without power."The war will cost €155 billion next year. And we need at least €70 billion more from you – for defence, for weapons, and for our resilience", Zelensky said in his address to the EU leaders, which he later posted on X. "This is a realistic amount. And I ask you to find this support. It will help us hold Russia back".
In an interview, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told media reporters that the EU would probably have to provide a new loan to Ukraine to help cover its budget gap for next year. “Last winter was already hell, this one will be once again like hell”, Michal said.
It is mention worthy that Ukraine's leadership has been alarmed by disruptions to the Starshield satellite system. A US official has denied that Trump ordered a deliberate slowdown of Starshield, which is the military-grade version of the Starlink service run by Elon Musk's SpaceX, and Trump said this week intelligence sharing with Ukraine continued. Zelensky said the operation had improved but not yet been fully restored, adding the disruption placed civilians at risk.
EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said: "Starlink is really necessary for Ukraine. And unfortunately, in short term, Europe can't replace this capability".
Today (Friday – 16th October 2026), US Treasury has asked Russia's sovereign wealth fund to help solve payment issues relating to a deal between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on the sale of Russian diesel, Putin's investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev has confirmed the statement. Dmitriev said the Treasury had requested the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which he heads, to "facilitate payments and solve tactical issues". The RDIF "will work to ensure that all payments are efficient and reach their intended recipients", he added.
The deal announced by Trump a week ago involves the supply of Russian diesel to US and global markets in order to lower the price of the fuel, a key priority for the US president ahead of next month's mid-term elections. But the agreement, fiercely criticised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, requires the removal of some sanctions on Russian oil that Trump himself has imposed.
"There are so many layers of sanctions piled on top of one another that everyone has become confused; it's difficult now to figure out how to navigate a way out of this situation", Dmitriev told the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow, while adding, "Brainstorming sessions are already under way regarding how to lift these sanctions - that is exactly what the United States is currently working on".
Dmitriev, a key figure in talks between Russia and the United States on ending the Ukraine war, has said the diesel deal could serve as a model for other forms of economic cooperation between the two countries. But he said that the Graham Act, about to come into force in the United States, would effectively prohibit any investment cooperation between the two countries. The sweeping sanctions and tariff bill, intended to increase economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, is named after late Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced it. "This law clearly hinders Russian-American projects, as well as the role both nations play in stabilizing energy markets and operating within the global marketplace", Dmitriev said.
Team Maverick.
