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US President Donald Trump told Newsmax in an interview aired on October 16, 2026, that he found Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky more difficult to negotiate with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump added that Zelensky “is not a good guy for us to deal with” and “doesn’t want to settle” despite public statements to the contrary, while noting he was “not a big fan of Zelensky” because the conflict had “destroyed that country.” The comments, reported across multiple outlets including Meduza and the Hindustan Times, came as Trump also criticised Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries as a “disgrace” that drove up global fuel prices.[[1]](https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/16/trump-calls-zelensky-more-difficult-to-deal-with-than-putin-says-he-s-not-a-big-fan)
Zelensky held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders in Brussels on the same day, securing public expressions of support from key allies. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Germany remained on the side of Ukraine and “fully support the President as he carries out his difficult duties,” according to a Meduza report. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would “continue to stand by Ukraine and President Zelensky,” while British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting declared, “We stand with President Zelensky.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted that he was “absolutely convinced” nobody could break Ukraine and its president in their fight against Russian aggression.[[2]](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/12/european-allies-publicly-back-zelensky-after-trump-says-ukraine-needs-a-new-president)
The Ukrainian leader’s European engagements followed heightened tensions after Trump struck a deal with Putin to import Russian diesel fuel, a move Zelensky described as a pity for losing a strong partner in remarks to British journalist Piers Morgan. European Council preparations for a summit the next day included discussions on further aid to Ukraine, with officials from Germany and France emphasising the need for continued defence support. A Financial Times report on October 15 indicated EU leaders planned to urge Zelensky to moderate his public criticism of Trump during closed-door talks to avoid further straining transatlantic ties.[[3]](https://www.ft.com/content/fb2110b4-50d2-4ff9-9886-f7b42c5b4579?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
Trump’s latest remarks built on earlier statements in which he suggested it was time for Ukraine to get a new president, prompting Zelensky to respond that he was prepared to hold elections if granted a 60-day ceasefire. The Ukrainian president told reporters that such a pause would allow the vote to proceed under the constitution, which bars elections during wartime, and said he would accept the people’s choice. Meduza reported that Zelensky had shared this position with Trump’s team and called on Putin to agree to the temporary halt.[[2]](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/12/european-allies-publicly-back-zelensky-after-trump-says-ukraine-needs-a-new-president)
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has seen the United States provide hundreds of billions of dollars in assistance under previous administrations, a figure Trump referenced critically in his Newsmax appearance. European leaders have sought to close ranks around Ukraine in response to the latest US-Ukraine friction, with Euronews noting that the continent was scrambling to reaffirm its support amid fears over Washington’s reliability. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters that his country would do everything in its power to back Ukraine and defend Europe’s political order against Russian pressure.[[4]](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/12/blindsided-again-by-trump-europe-puts-on-a-brave-face-and-rallies-behind-ukraine)
Zelensky wrote on social media that all of Europe wanted the war to end but that strong signals, including more pressure on Russia and defence support for Ukraine, were required to achieve that outcome. The meetings in Brussels also addressed Ukraine’s energy security ahead of what officials expect to be a harsh winter, with blackouts already affecting parts of the country. EU leaders reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to statements compiled by outlets including Politico and the Financial Times.
