Trump says Ukraine needs a new president after Zelenskyy criticises US-Russia diesel deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that it is time for Ukraine to get a new president. He made the remark after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised a deal under which the United States will import large volumes of Russian diesel. Trump told reporters outside the White House that Zelenskyy “wants to make problems for the world” by continuing strikes on Russian oil refineries and that he should “better damn well stop.”

“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does,” Trump said. He added that the war should never have started and that Zelenskyy had lost territory and lives. Ukraine has been under martial law since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, so elections are suspended.

The diesel agreement was announced by Trump on Friday after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia will supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, another 500,000 tonnes in November, and further volumes thereafter. The U.S. Treasury issued a temporary licence suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. Other Russian assets remain frozen. Trump said the deal would bring diesel prices down for American farmers, truckers and consumers ahead of the midterm elections.

Zelenskyy called the arrangement a gift to Putin and an investment in a war that must be ended rather than prolonged. He said the money would allow Russia to continue attacking Ukraine. Hours after the announcement, Russian strikes on the Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 20 people, including three children. Zelenskyy described the strikes as Russia’s “thanks” for the diesel deal.

A U.S. official told Axios that Trump decided to move forward with the diesel purchase after Zelenskyy ignored multiple requests to halt strikes on Russian refineries. Those strikes had contributed to global diesel shortages. Earlier this year Russia itself banned diesel exports in response to the damage. Ukrainian negotiators were in Miami on Friday for talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner when the deal was finalised. Zelenskyy said his team had been used as a smokescreen.

The agreement reverses years of U.S. and Western pressure to limit Russian energy revenues that fund the war. European allies have largely backed Zelenskyy’s criticism. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian leader “iconic and historic.” Putin later confirmed Russia was prepared to supply diesel to the United States and global markets, though he did not specify exact volumes matching Trump’s announcement.

Diesel markets have been tight since the wider conflict involving Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of the world’s oil products normally passes. Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian refineries have further reduced available supply. Trump has prioritised lower fuel prices for American voters. The temporary sanctions waiver does not lift the broader Russia sanctions package he signed last month.

Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow stops striking Ukrainian power plants. That offer has not produced a reciprocal pause. The Miami talks were meant to advance a ceasefire framework, but the diesel deal has damaged trust between Washington and Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials. No new three-way meeting involving Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy has been scheduled.

The immediate effect is additional diesel on global markets and a public rift between the U.S. president and the Ukrainian leader. Whether the supply arrives at the stated volumes depends on the condition of Russian refineries and on shipping routes. Further Ukrainian strikes or a Russian response could limit the practical impact of the waiver. The political cost in Kyiv and European capitals is already visible.