Trump says Putin easier to deal with than Zelensky
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying it is harder to reach a deal with him than with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Trump also commented on Ukraine's resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries. In a Newsmax interview, Trump confirmed he had asked Zelensky to refrain from attacks on Russian refineries, which resumed on October 15. Trump stated Zelensky is not someone he wants to deal with, claiming Zelensky does not actually want to negotiate and has ruined the country. Trump reiterated his claim that the full-scale war could have been avoided if he had been president in 2020. He also suggested that personal animosity between Zelensky and Putin complicates peace negotiations.