Key facts
- European leaders backed Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
- US President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russia last week.
- Zelensky ordered Ukrainian forces to restart strikes on Russian oil refineries.
European leaders on Friday rallied around Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky as Kyiv’s ties with US President Donald Trump have nosedived and worries grow that the US leader is increasingly siding with Russia. 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. Zelensky infuriated Trump further by ordering Ukraine’s forces to restart strikes on Russian oil refineries.