Zelensky rallies European allies as Trump ties slump
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday sought to rally European allies after saying Kyiv would no longer abide by US President Donald Trump's demands not to strike Russian oil refineries. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets. Anger in Ukraine has been further heightened by restrictions to a critical US-provided satellite system that has hampered its military's ability to counter Russia's intense bombardments. Against the backdrop of his latest falling-out with Trump, Zelensky met Nato chief Mark Rutte in Brussels and held a string of bilateral meetings with European leaders before he was set to join an EU summit on Friday. "All of us in Europe want this war to end. And for that to happen, strong signals are needed – more real pressure on Russia and more defence support for Ukraine," Zelensky wrote online. "It is especially important now to act together to protect lives." European leaders have broadly thrown their support behind Zelensky, as they look to weather the latest storm in Trump's volatile relations with Kyiv. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said it was "crucial" that Ukraine receive "all the means necessary...
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