Zelenskiy rejects US-Russia diesel deal, backs bigger EU role in peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned a US-Russian diesel deal, called Moscow's peace stance a "parody," and welcomed a larger European role in negotiations, speaking at an EU summit in Brussels on Friday. Zelenskiy said Russia does not want peace talks, while President Vladimir Putin declared a "security zone" inside Ukraine as non-negotiable. Trump denied responsibility for Starlink disruptions and criticized Ukrainian strikes on refineries, which he blamed for higher energy prices ahead of US midterm elections. EU leaders rallied behind Zelenskiy amid fears of reduced US support. Ukraine struck a Russian refinery Thursday after abandoning a US-announced energy ceasefire, and the diesel deal drew criticism from France's Macron for funding Russia's war.