Zelenskyy calls Russian attacks Putin's 'thanks' for diesel deal

UK hosting follows Starmer’s post-Oval Office reception of Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets amounted to a “thanks” from Vladimir Putin, expressing anger at US President Donald Trump’s deal to buy Russian diesel. The Guardian’s reporting described Trump as “an often wayward ally” for Ukraine.

The remarks come as the UK prepares to host Zelenskyy at Downing Street on Wednesday, in contrast to his difficulties with Trump. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will receive the Ukrainian president at No 10, with Burnham saying his message to Zelenskyy and his country would be: “We are with you for as long as it takes.”

To coincide with the visit, Britain has said it will move more rapidly in providing Ukraine with British-made lightweight multi-role missiles (LMMs) to help protect it from attacks by a new generation of Russian jet-powered drones. Announcing the meeting, No 10 said part of an ongoing £1.6bn package to deliver more than 5,000 LMMs to Ukraine would be sped up to help combat the jet-powered drones. These drones are quicker and higher-flying than the propeller-driven Shahed drones previously used, making them harder to shoot down and allowing Russia to strike more targets in Ukraine, including in Kyiv.

In parallel, Burnham and his ministers will push for a full international maritime services ban on exports of Russian liquefied natural gas. The chancellor, John Healey, will separately use meetings at the ongoing International Monetary Fund summit in Bangkok to push other countries to ban Russian LNG shipments.

The pair have already met twice since Burnham took office in July — at the Portsmouth naval base in July, and when Burnham travelled to Kyiv in August.

Ahead of the meeting, Burnham said in a statement: “Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in the UK and ensuring those on the frontlines have the equipment they need to push back Russia. My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer: we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe. It is not just the right thing to do, but it’s the necessary thing to do. Russia’s aggression cannot be allowed to succeed on our continent.”

The latest meeting comes as Ukraine faces increased Russian missile and drone attacks, and after Trump made a deal to buy Russian diesel, called for Ukraine to have a new leader, and announced a supposed ceasefire connected to energy infrastructure that Zelenskyy said “was news to him.”

UK governments have previously welcomed Zelenskyy after difficult experiences with Trump. He met Keir Starmer at Downing Street the day after Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, publicly berated the Ukrainian president in the Oval Office 18 months ago. During that trip Zelenskyy was also hosted by King Charles, who, in a pointedly personal touch, saw the Ukrainian president at Sandringham in Norfolk, which is a royal family home and rarely used for such visits.