Trump says Putin wants Ukraine deal “more than Zelensky,” as continued attacks leave energy ceasefire disputed

President Donald Trump said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a deal to end the war in Ukraine more than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does, while continuing to insist the two countries had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Trump predicted his administration would bring them to an agreement, saying both leaders wanted a deal but “don’t know how” to reach one.

When told that Moscow and Kyiv disputed his assertion that they had accepted the energy ceasefire, Trump replied: “They agreed. You know why? Because I said, ‘You agree.’” Asked about Russian strikes after his announcement, he first said he was “not sure” Russia had violated the truce and would look into it, then said there had been “violations on both sides.” He said he believed both leaders supported the ceasefire.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had refrained from striking Russian energy facilities overnight while Russia continued attacks on Ukrainian gas and energy infrastructure. The Associated Press reported that Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes continued after Trump’s announcement.

On domestic matters, Trump said he understood authorities were looking at Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar “very carefully,” while saying the matter had nothing to do with him. He called Omar “a terrible person” and referred to Somalia, where she was born, as a “non-country.” The remarks came after federal agents searched Omar’s home, the Associated Press reported.

Trump also defended his arrangement for Russian diesel, describing it as “a deal for the rest of the world,” and said the Houthis in Yemen were “misbehaving very badly.” He said he might meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again and confirmed his administration was considering firing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, adding, “We’re not happy.”

Trump announced the energy ceasefire on October 11, but Russia had not confirmed a finalized agreement. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was willing to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Russia halted its strikes on Ukrainian energy sites. The announcement followed a U.S.-Russia diesel arrangement announced on October 9; Reuters reported that U.S. envoys presented the arrangement to Ukrainian officials as part of an effort to bring Moscow back to negotiations.