Trump accuses Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war, defends Russian sanctions waiver

Updated on: October 19, 2026 / 1:47 AM EDT / CBS/AP

President Trump said Sunday he is "in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine," and accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war.

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Mr. Trump criticized Zelensky for "using Diesel Refineries in Russia as a target" and alleged "he doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did."

"He could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now. His country is in shambles, a large portion of his land is lost, his oceans and seas are gone, and his male population is low, wounded, and/or dead," Mr. Trump wrote.

The comments come amid a deepening rift between the Mr. Trump and Zelensky, with the U.S. president criticizing his Ukrainian counterpart for attacking Russian oil infrastructure.

Mr. Trump said Sunday that he decided to hold off on implementing new sanctions on Russia because he doesn't "want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table."

Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations! Signing that…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/