Trump disputes Zelenskiy's claim that he is pushing Ukraine to surrender

Trump says he is negotiating peace and that Zelenskiy "doesn't want to end this war". Zelenskiy had accused Washington of pushing Ukraine to surrender, as Patriot stocks run low and Washington limits satellite access.

Trump has disputed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's account of US policy. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he is negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine. He said "great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations." He said he will not sign an unspecified document for now, because it could drive Russia from the table.

Trump also said Zelenskiy "doesn't want to end this war," despite the state of Ukraine's territory and population. He said Russia is sending "millions of barrels of diesel to the world" at low prices, despite Ukrainian strikes on its refineries. He said those strikes are hurting diesel markets in the US and abroad, affecting farmers, ranchers and businesses. He also said Russia must stay away from support for Iran. Trump has said allies can buy munitions once stockpiles are rebuilt, and that Ukraine has plenty of other targets to hit besides refineries.

Zelenskiy said Trump is urging Ukraine to surrender to Russia. The accusation goes further than what he said a day earlier, when he accused Trump of pushing Ukraine toward capitulation.

Zelenskiy has proposed halting Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries in exchange for more air-defence interceptors. He has linked the halt to the supply of US Patriot interceptors. Ukraine had just 10 Patriot interceptor missiles as of October 7, with resupply irregular since May. CNN has reported that Ukraine had already exhausted its supply of US-made Patriot missiles.

Zelenskiy pointed to eased Russia-related sanctions, delayed Patriot deliveries and Starlink restrictions as evidence of US pressure. The White House has also ordered a formal limit on Ukraine's access to Starshield satellite capability. Zelenskiy said he hopes relations with Washington could improve after the November 3 midterm elections, while peace talks continue.

Zelenskiy's language marks a shift from a leader who had mostly tied Ukrainian restraint to the pace of interceptor deliveries rather than to outright surrender. The charge comes as Patriot stocks run low and as a diesel supply and asset-unfreezing track, which European officials have called premature, moves forward.