In a Newsmax interview on May 28, 2026, Donald Trump branded Ukraine’s strike on a Russian oil refinery a disgrace, claiming the attack would inflate global oil prices.
Zelenskyy, arriving in Brussels for a summit with European leaders, denounced the U.S. president’s comments as unwarranted and reiterated his urgency to secure €27 billion in military aid to cover the winter deficit.
European officials, including Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, expressed disappointment over the slow pace of new financial pledges, noting that the €27 billion shortfall leaves Ukraine 32.6 billion euros short for next year, while an additional 40 billion euros of direct military supplies are still expected.
Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, with drone strikes in Kharkiv killing three and forcing 370,000 residents in Volyn to lose power, while Kyiv’s emergency power cuts were confirmed by DTEK.
Jetten criticized Trump’s language, insisting Washington has a stake in Kyiv’s defense, and warned that European governments must decide whether they can sustain long‑term commitments amid rising energy prices.