US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to get a new president, accusing Volodymyr Zelensky of rejecting peace deals amid tensions over Russian diesel sanctions.
United States President Donald Trump says he thinks “it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, before travelling to a rally in Tennessee, Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of repeatedly spurning opportunities to strike a deal and end the war with Russia.
The remarks came a day after Trump announced an agreement with Moscow to temporarily suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports, and hours after Zelensky publicly criticised that deal.
What Trump Said
“Zelensky could have settled this war many times, and he chose not to. It’s very difficult,” Trump said. He insisted the war would never have started had he been president when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
He said Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries threatened international diesel supplies and risked raising fuel costs for American farmers and ranchers.
“We said you [Zelensky] can do whatever you want to Russia; don’t hurt the refineries because that’s the world’s problem,” Trump said. “And he wants to make problems for the world; 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.”
He added: “But what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel. Do you know what I suggest? I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he [Zelensky] could have made many deals, but for some reason he never does. I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Trump also warned that Zelensky “better damn well stop” attacking the refineries.
The Diesel Deal
On Friday, Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Under the arrangement, as described by Trump, Russia would deliver 3 million tonnes of diesel fuel within a short period. The waiver is reported to run for 30 days and comes as fuel prices rise ahead of US midterm elections in November.
A US official told Axios that Trump struck the deal after Zelensky ignored half a dozen US requests to stop attacking Russian refineries.
Zelensky had warned that the deal would generate revenue for Moscow to finance its war against Ukraine. Some reports put the potential value to Russia at up to $10 billion. “Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelensky wrote on X on Saturday.
Reaction
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, responded on social media, saying Zelensky “leads our nation in a time of war — a war for independence, freedom, and dignity.”
Zelensky spoke with several allies on Saturday, calling for “real decisions to protect lives in Ukraine” and to protect European security. A Downing Street spokesperson said UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had spoken to Zelensky and offered his “complete solidarity.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said suspending sanctions “provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war.” She added: “This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won’t.” European Council President Antonio Costa also criticised what he called a “unilateral decision” that would affect European security. The British government said it would keep its own sanctions on Russian oil.
Ukraine has long treated Russian refineries as legitimate military targets, arguing that oil exports fund the Kremlin’s war effort and that refineries supply fuel to the armed forces. Some analysts have also questioned whether Ukrainian strikes are the main driver of US diesel prices.
Context
Trump’s comments came after Russian strikes killed at least 20 people, including three children, in Ukraine, according to CBS News. Missiles also struck Kyiv in a daytime attack on Saturday.
Trump had earlier called for elections in Ukraine in December, saying Ukrainian voters should have the choice to replace Zelensky. Ukraine has been under martial law since the war began, which suspends elections under its constitution. Axios described the exchange as the most serious rupture between the two leaders since their February 2025 Oval Office meeting.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following years of tension dating back to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The invasion has caused extensive civilian casualties, mass displacement and widespread destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure. Russian forces continue to occupy significant parts of Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv has sustained its resistance with support from Western allies. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, attempts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed.
