Kiev ‘ignoring’ Trump – Kremlin

Ukraine, emboldened by continued European support, is ignoring US President Donald Trump’s calls to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said.

Three Russian oil refineries and a gas chemical complex were targeted in overnight attacks on Friday, with minor damage reported at one facility, according to Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak.

Commenting on the latest attacks, Ushakov told journalist Pavel Zarubin that Kiev had once again defied Trump. “I would even say they are simply ignoring him,” he added.

Trump has repeatedly demanded that Kiev stop targeting Russian oil refineries, accusing it of worsening the global fuel crisis and driving up prices for American consumers and farmers – a sensitive issue ahead of the November 3 US midterms. Vladimir Zelensky rejected the criticism, calling Trump’s claims “totally false.”

Ushakov suggested that Kiev was emboldened by continued European support. “They would hardly have dared to do this on their own,” he said.

“Trump has been persistent on this issue and continues to be, but they are not listening,” Ushakov said. The aide noted that trilateral talks are being planned under US mediation, which he described as crucial to resolving the conflict.

Moscow agreed in principle to a fourth round of trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine following last week’s meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. The negotiations could take place in Abu Dhabi in November, with European countries not invited, according to the Kremlin.

Ukraine’s European backers have been excluded from all three rounds of trilateral negotiations so far and have increasingly sought direct participation in the peace process. Moscow has accused the EU of acting as the principal side arming Ukraine and prolonging the conflict.

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