Punjab, Oct. 16 -- Trump criticised Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing the attacks were driving up global energy prices. The EU's foreign policy chief responded that pressure to end the war should be directed at Moscow, not at Ukraine to surrender.
The argument
Ukraine has spent months striking Russian refineries with long-range drones - a campaign aimed at the revenue that funds the invasion rather than at the front line. Trump's objection is that it works too well: refined product coming off the market pushes up prices everywhere, including in the United States five weeks before a midterm election.
The complaint is economically coherent and strategically remarkable. It asks the invaded country to stop at...