Zelensky drums up European backing as Trump ties slump

Among those he describes as real leaders, Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed with open arms in Brussels. Washington, however, is more of a grey zone. When asked if he felt US President Donald Trump was treating him as a scapegoat for rising domestic costs ahead of the midterms, Zelensky offered a pause, then... This is my answer. Zelensky's trip to Brussels comes as tensions brew between Washington and Kyiv over a recent diesel deal between the US and Russia. Russia. As well as the Ukrainian president, France's Emmanuel Macron is among those who have condemned the agreement. EMMANUEL MACRON, French President of the United States It is not good for anyone, because those diesel stocks leaving Russia already exist. They are being bought by other countries right now. They are already on the global market, so it's not true that they are going to solve the global market problem. On Friday, the French president announced that Ukraine's allies would look into a request by Kyiv for an extra 70 billion euros in funding next year. As well as funding, another issue discussed in Brussels was recent disruptions to Starshield, with Zelensky explaining that the SpaceX-operated communications system is crucial for Kyiv's defenses. After SpaceX founder Elon Musk suggested that limitations may have come from the U.S. president, Donald Trump insisted that neither he nor Musk were responsible for any such restrictions. It wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon, and from what I understand, it's the same as it's always been. The US had previously threatened to withhold sharing intelligence if Kyiv did not stop striking Russian oil refineries. Following the Starshield slowdown, Ukraine was hit by several deadly attacks earlier in the week.