Zelensky calls Trump’s statements about Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries “complete nonsense”

Vladimir Zelensky, in an interview with British businessman and TV presenter Steven Bartlett published on the YouTube channel The Diary Of A CEO, accused U.S. President Donald Trump of lying — in connection with his claims that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries are contributing to rising fuel prices in the United States.

“The volume of diesel fuel exports from Russia is so negligible that it has no impact on prices in the United States. This is completely false information… Trump decided to place responsibility for this problem not on Putin, but on me, explaining to his citizens that this is why diesel prices are rising in America. This is complete nonsense. I think it is wrong and unacceptable that Trump is blaming me for Russia’s aggression and the crimes committed by Russia. He is changing the context, and that is unfair. I think this is simply an attempt to divert attention from Iran, from what is happening in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is blocked. That is the root of the problem. But all of this is being shifted onto us, and I, as the leader of our country, am becoming the target of attacks,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president added that Trump should use the same rhetoric toward Vladimir Putin that he applies toward him. Zelensky also expressed bewilderment over the fact that Trump is not imposing “hellish sanctions” against Russia.

“Trump can do this. I don’t know why he doesn’t… You have to be a president and you need to calm down and be diplomatic. But you can’t just say: ‘Well, sorry, that’s Putin, a big country. Let’s just forget everything, forgive everything, and somehow we’ll buy and sell gas or diesel or something else,'” Zelensky said.

In addition, Zelensky effectively accused Washington of diverting interceptor missiles intended for Ukraine to the Middle East.

“There is an agreement to supply Ukraine with interceptors paid for by Europe, but the United States is instead delivering them to the Middle East,” he said.

During the same interview, Zelensky refused to withdraw troops from Donbas, warning of serious consequences if Sloviansk and Kramatorsk were to be surrendered.

“This leads directly into the Dnipropetrovsk region — to Pavlohrad, Dnipro. These are the most important centers… Kryvyi Rih is my hometown, Nikopol — this is an industrial, engineering, manufacturing hub, it is the economy of our country… If we give them these cities of ours, then the risk will be enormous. If he wants to advance further, he will be able to capture a huge number of our cities if he moves forward. And the risk is real. Nobody guarantees anything,” the president stressed.

According to Zelensky, “a ceasefire is already a huge compromise,” but Russia is demanding even more. It is Moscow that is pushing for the surrender of Donbas to end the war, although, according to recent leaks, this condition is no longer present in the American peace plan for Ukraine.

Earlier in the same interview, Zelensky said, with tears in his eyes, that he cannot sleep because of the war.