Trump: Zelensky "not a good guy to deal with", refinery strikes a "disgrace"; Kremlin agrees, Zelensky defends strikes and warns of "gas deals"
Place: Washington, Brussels, MoscowRegion: Ukraine-wide and the front lineautomatic summary
Where the versions diverge
Russian sources stress the convergence of the Kremlin's and Trump's positions and the claim that Zelensky does not want peace; Ukrainian and independent sources stress that US-Russian arrangements were not agreed with Kyiv and Zelensky's condition on protecting energy.
What Russia reports
automatic summary Interfax and TASS quote Trump's Newsmax interview: the conflict will be settled, but "without him", because Zelensky does not want a settlement, and refinery strikes only push up world oil prices and are "a disgrace". Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin fully agrees with Trump that Zelensky does not want a peaceful settlement. TASS, citing the NYT, writes that Vance, Witkoff and Kushner asked Zelensky not to strike Russian refineries.
“Но это будет без него, так как он не хочет урегулирования”
“Well, I think that's a disgrace.”
“И здесь мы полностью сходимся в этой точке зрения с президентом Трампом”
- Трамп заявил, что украинский конфликт можно будет решить, но без Зеленского — Interfax, 16 October, 02:50
- Trump slams Kiev’s strikes on Russian refineries as 'disgrace' that harms whole world — TASS (tass.com), 16 October, 03:42
- В Кремле согласны с Трампом, что Зеленский не стремится к мирному урегулированию — Interfax, 16 October, 11:50
- Trump views Zelensky as not the best choice for US to work with — TASS (tass.com), 16 October, 03:05
- Трамп вновь обвинил Зеленского в провоцировании роста цен на нефть — Interfax, 16 October, 03:40
- JD Vance, Witkoff, Kushner ask Zelensky not to strike Russian oil refineries — newspaper — TASS (tass.com), 16 October, 08:04
- Trump describes Crimea as 'most beautiful piece of land' Ukraine gave up — TASS (tass.com), 16 October, 11:44
- Зеленский гримасой ответил на вопрос о Трампе — RIA Novosti, 16 October, 20:36
What Ukraine reports
automatic summary Ukrainian media relay the interview in detail, including Trump's remark that it is easier to deal with Putin and his comments on Crimea having "ocean on four sides". In Brussels Zelensky said the diesel deal had come as a surprise to Kyiv and that Ukraine had been ready to stop refinery strikes if the US provided anti-ballistic systems to protect its energy, but did not get them; he said Russia had taken signals about sanctions relief as a green light.
“Угода щодо дизеля стала для нас сюрпризом”
“Але я не отримав це. Дивно!”
“Очевидно, що Росія сприйняла сигнали щодо послаблення санкцій як зелене світло”
- Зеленський розповів, за якої умови Україна погоджувалася припинити удари по НПЗ Росії — Ukrainska Pravda, 16 October, 14:54
- Зеленський: Росія сприйняла сигнали щодо послаблення санкцій як зелене світло — Suspilne, 16 October, 00:37
- Зеленський не та людина, з ким варто мати справу, - Трамп — RBC-Ukraine, 16 October, 03:20
- "Він не хоче домовлятися": Трамп заявив, що не хоче мати справ із Зеленським — Ukrainska Pravda, 16 October, 03:28
- Трамп: Зеленський — не та людина, з якою добре мати справу — Suspilne, 16 October, 03:57
- "Це ганьба": Трамп про удари України по російських НПЗ — RBC-Ukraine, 16 October, 05:10
- Трамп заявив, що в Росії є "безліч цілей" і Україні не обов’язково бити по НПЗ — Ukrainska Pravda, 16 October, 07:38
- Венс, Кушнер та Віткофф просили Зеленського не атакувати російські НПЗ, - NYT — RBC-Ukraine, 16 October, 07:49
What independent sources report
automatic summary The BBC, Guardian, Meduza and Kyiv Independent quote Trump as saying Zelensky is harder to deal with than Putin; Zelensky replied that he is only standing up for Ukraine's interests and warned that gas deals and the lifting of other sanctions would follow the diesel deal. The Moscow Times quotes Peskov on full agreement with Trump and recalls that Putin still demands that Ukraine cede the whole of Donetsk region as a condition for a ceasefire, which Kyiv rejects.
“I find Zelenskyy to be more difficult to deal with than Putin”
“In my view, we cannot accept these agreements. Because gas deals will follow.”
“we fully agree with President Trump”
“Putin continues to demand that Ukraine cede full control of the Donetsk region as a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement”
- Trump calls Zelensky ‘more difficult to deal with than Putin,’ says he’s ‘not a big fan’ — Meduza (EN), 16 October, 09:45
- 'Gas deals will follow' — Zelensky warns Trump could ease more sanctions on Russia — Kyiv Independent, 16 October, 15:15
- Kremlin ‘Fully Agrees’ With Trump’s Zelensky Criticism — The Moscow Times, 16 October, 13:14
- 'I'm not a big fan of Zelensky,' Trump says as US-Ukraine tensions deepen — Kyiv Independent, 16 October, 03:05
- Zelensky says Ukraine has right to defend itself after Trump calls latest strikes a 'disgrace' — BBC News, 16 October, 10:47
- Trump calls Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries ‘a disgrace’ — The Guardian, 16 October, 12:01
Confirmation
Confirmation: confirmed by independent sources
The event is reported by international or exile independent outlets and no contradictions in the facts between the groups were detected. This does not mean the independent outlets verified every detail.
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