Trump Calls On Ukraine To Replace Zelenskyy Amid Tensions Over Russia Diesel Deal

United States President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to replace Volodymyr Zelenskyy, lashing out at the Ukrainian leader for strikes on Russian oil refineries that have contributed to high global diesel prices.

The criticism on Saturday came as tensions between the US and Ukraine have risen after Trump announced a diesel supply deal with Russia, according to Al Jazeera.

“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House, saying Zelenskyy had hurt global diesel supplies with strikes on Russian refineries.

“He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world,” Trump said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha defended Zelenskyy in a post on X.

“He has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide. Statements from abroad only confirm that he is doing his job well. He deserves support,” Sybiha wrote.

Trump, who has been urging Zelenskyy to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure for weeks, struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to buy diesel from Russia in an attempt to reduce high fuel prices.

The deal marked a stunning reversal of years of Washington’s pressure on Russia over its full scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump has sought to blame record-high US diesel prices on Ukraine rather than the US-led war in Iran.

Zelenskyy Links Deal To Fresh Russian Attack

The US-Russia deal drew a furious reaction from Zelenskyy, who said it had emboldened Moscow. He linked the agreement with a Russian attack on Saturday that killed 20 people, including three children, in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia.

“Today, Russia said thank you for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy said.

The Zaporizhzhia assault was the third mass-casualty attack on Ukraine in four days. Nearly 80 civilians were killed in Russian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, including at least 30 killed by a bomb in Kramatorsk and 22 others by a missile in Pryluky.

Trump’s announcement about the diesel deal was in stark contrast to a sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed last month aimed at clamping down on Moscow’s oil and gas revenues.

He announced the deal amid talks between Ukrainian and European officials with US negotiators in Miami, Florida, on Friday, which were aimed at developing a common proposal for ending the war.

“I said to him, ‘Do what you want. Don’t hit refineries. There’s plenty of targets. Don’t hit refineries.’ And he went out and he hit. He better damn well stop,” Trump said. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals, but for some reason, he never does.”

The diesel deal was criticised by US lawmakers, including Republican Representative Don Bacon, who said it was time to apply more sanctions that Congress had recently passed, not roll them back.

Ukraine’s European allies have also expressed dismay at the Russian deal. United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelenskyy on Saturday and said London would strengthen its sanctions on Russia, according to Downing Street.

Zelenskyy said every additional $1bn Russia earns from exports would help pay for weapons components, drone upgrades, missile production and the recruitment of mercenaries.