The Straits Times reports today: "President Trump strongly criticized Ukraine for resuming attacks on Russian oil refineries, calling the Ukrainian actions shameful and asserting that the strikes are driving up global energy prices."
Commentary: Trump’s direct criticism of Ukraine’s targeting of Russian refineries centers on advancing his own proposed "energy ceasefire" framework. He is concerned that attacks on refining infrastructure could further elevate global diesel and energy prices, undermining domestic economic conditions in the United States and jeopardizing Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections—potentially leaving him as a lame-duck president. However, from Ukraine’s perspective, the resumption of such strikes is justified by Russia’s failure to halt its own attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv views as legitimate self-defense. This situation underscores the deepening rift between Trump and President Zelenskyy: while Trump prioritizes energy market stability and electoral outcomes, Ukraine remains focused on its national security interests. The divergence between the two allies has now become publicly evident.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879192133505024/
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