Trump’s comments about Zelensky, during an interview with US outlet Newsmax, indicate the deteriorating relationship between the US and Ukraine.

“Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with,” Trump said. “He doesn’t want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn’t,” he added.

“I’m not a big fan of Zelenskyy”.

When asked about Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries, Trump said it was “a disgrace”.

“All he’s doing is making the world oil price higher… There are a lot of targets that you can hit.”

Trump is frustrated at Ukraine’s continued targeting of Russian oil refineries because the US recently announced a deal to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel to the American market, in an effort to bring down fuel prices.

That deal, in turn, infuriated Zelensky, who called it a gift to Putin.

Zelensky has been holding back-to-back talks with EU leaders while in Brussels. On Thursday he met Nato chief Marke Rutte, as well as the presidents of Poland, France, Denmark and Belgium.

A day earlier, he met UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at No 10 in London.

At the summit on Friday, Zelensky said he would hold talks with the chiefs of the European Council and European Commission, and the prime ministers of Hungary, Finland, and Sweden.