US President Donald Trump has called for the replacement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a new leader. He made these remarks amidst fierce opposition from Kyiv following a deal to purchase diesel from Russia—aimed at lowering fuel prices ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections. Trump claimed that diesel prices are rising due to Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian oil refineries and that Zelenskyy has failed to reach any effective agreement to end the war. News agency AFP reported this development.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump said, “I would suggest that Ukraine choose a new leader capable of making a deal or agreement. But for some unknown reason, Zelenskyy is never able to do that.” Criticizing Zelenskyy further, Trump stated that under his leadership, Ukraine has already lost 30 percent of its territory and millions of people have lost their lives in the war. Noting that the war should never have started, he said it is time for Ukraine to elect a new president. Trump also claimed that had he been in power in 2022, this war would never have begun.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha strongly protested Trump’s remarks. He wrote on X, “President Zelenskyy has the full support of the Ukrainian people, and they alone have the right to choose their leader. Such aggressive statements from abroad only prove that he is fulfilling his duties diligently and deserves that support.”
Earlier on Friday, Trump had struck a rare deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import diesel in an effort to lower fuel prices. Under this agreement, Russia is set to supply 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, followed by several million more tons in subsequent phases. Zelenskyy has reacted with fury to the move to ease sanctions on Moscow that had been in place for several years. He alleged that, in return for the easing of sanctions, Russia dropped glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 20 civilians. Zelenskyy warned that Russia would use the revenue generated from fuel exports to manufacture more drones, missiles, and weapons to attack Ukraine. European allies have also expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding this diesel deal involving Washington.
