Commentary: Donald Trump's fight with Volodymyr Zelenskyy reveals a deeper frustration

The last 10 days have arguably been one of the toughest periods of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's tenure since the war with Russia commenced more than four years ago. Ukrainian cities are getting pummeled daily with Russian missiles. Ukraine's stock of missile interceptors is running dangerously low. And Ukraine's political leadership is once again in a rhetorical knife fight with President Donald Trump, whose policy decisions of late have caused a mix of anger and confusion in Kyiv and Europe.

Poor relations between Zelenskyy and Trump are nothing new. Recall the infamous shouting match in the Oval Office, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance scolded the Ukrainian president for being ungrateful for the support the United States provided over the years. But the last week has a different feel. The Trump administration has made a number of moves that many foreign policy observers and even some Republican lawmakers have labeled pro-Russia. On Oct. 9, Trump unveiled a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would immediately bring nearly 3 million barrels of Russian diesel onto global markets. Days later, access to Starlink, which helps the Ukrainian military shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, was blocked. And last Friday, Trump waived additional sanctions on the Russian economy, explaining that he didn't want to jeopardize peace negotiations.