Donald Trump Demands New Ukrainian Leader After Diesel Deal

President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a new leader capable of reaching a peace deal with Russia. Speaking at the White House on Saturday, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he claimed contributed to high diesel prices in the U.S. ahead of midterm elections. Trump asserted that the war started due to incompetence and would not have occurred had he been president in 2022.

These remarks followed a deal Trump struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import millions of tonnes of Russian diesel, reversing previous U.S. sanctions policy to lower fuel prices amid conflict with Iran. President Zelenskyy condemned the decision, arguing that easing economic pressure provides Moscow with funds for weapons and mercenaries. He highlighted the danger of the move after Russian forces killed 20 people, including three children, in a strike on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia on Saturday.

While Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga defended Zelenskyy's leadership, Trump threatened to halt intelligence sharing unless Kyiv stops striking Russian refineries. These tensions coincided with peace talks in Miami between U.S., Ukrainian, and European negotiators. Although Vladimir Putin indicated an immediate resumption of peace talks is unlikely due to Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow within two weeks.