WSJ: Trump dissatisfied with Zelensky over strikes on Russian oil refineries

Growing dissatisfaction in the White House

A new wave of US pressure on Ukraine began with the Ukrainian president's visit in September. As the Wall Street Journal found out, during the meeting, Donald Trump directly asked Volodymyr Zelensky about the reasons for the attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Sources familiar with the course of the negotiations noted that the US had asked Ukraine dozens of times to stop such strikes. In response, Ukrainian officials emphasised that Kyiv was ready for any energy ceasefire with Russia, but Moscow did not demonstrate similar readiness.

Impact on American consumers

«Упродовж наступного місяця Трамп дедалі більше розчаровувався в Зеленському, бо українські удари тривали. Президента дратувало, що Україна використовує американські ресурси для ударів по російському енергетичному експорту в спосіб, який, на його думку, може зашкодити американським споживачам, розповіли ці люди» (Over the following month, Trump became increasingly disappointed in Zelensky, as Ukrainian strikes continued. The president was irritated that Ukraine was using American resources to strike Russian energy exports in a way that, in his view, could harm American consumers, these people said), WSJ quoted its interlocutors.

Attempt to restore dialogue in Miami

In early October, senior officials from Ukraine and Europe arrived in Miami to hold a meeting with two key advisers to the American president. The main goal of these steps was to restore peace negotiations.

The talks held on 9 October were conducted by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Their task was to prepare new proposals for ending the war that would be acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.