Trump Slams Zelensky After 1,015 Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Oil Terminal
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 18
Trump Slams Zelensky After 1,015 Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Oil Terminal
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 18
Summary
Trump accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war after Ukraine sent 1,015 drones into Russia overnight, striking the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and other sites.
The rebuke followed Kyiv’s defiance of Trump’s demand to stop hitting Russian energy infrastructure, which the White House says could disrupt negotiations with Moscow.
Russia said the barrage killed 1 person and wounded 5, while Ukraine said the terminal attack sparked a fire and came after Russia hit Ukraine’s energy sector 76 times in a week.
Zelensky rejected Trump’s claim, called any US tilt toward Russia a “historic mistake,” and said he remained in nonstop contact with Trump envoys to pursue a long-term peace deal.
The clash deepened after Trump waived new Russia penalties and as talk of a possible Trump-Putin-Xi summit drew a warning from Kyiv that such a meeting would only embolden Putin.
Could easing economic sanctions on Moscow actually backfire and escalate the devastating drone war ahead of winter?
Why the October 2026 Energy Ceasefire Failed: Drone Warfare, U.S. Sanctions Waivers, and the Weaponization of Winter
Overview
In October 2026, the U.S. announced an 'energy ceasefire' to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, but Ukraine paused its strikes while Russia continued heavy bombardments, causing widespread blackouts. Frustrated by ongoing attacks and U.S. policy shifts—including sanctions waivers for Russian diesel and restrictions on Ukrainian access to key satellite systems—Ukraine resumed major drone assaults deep into Russian territory, sparking severe fires and power outages. This escalation led to mutual attacks on civilian infrastructure, mounting humanitarian crises, and diplomatic fallout, as Europe reaffirmed sanctions on Russia and Ukraine sought new partnerships to reduce reliance on U.S. technology and support.