Trump Calls for New Ukrainian Leadership as Zelensky Slams US-Russia Diesel Deal

US President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that Ukraine should replace its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, escalating a war of words triggered by a controversial American agreement to purchase Russian diesel. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, Trump said he believed "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," directly responding to Zelensky's condemnation of the deal.

The agreement, confirmed by Trump on Friday, suspends US sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. Under the arrangement, Russia would initially release 300,000 tonnes of diesel "to the American and global marketplace," followed by an additional 500,000 tonnes in November. Trump wrote on Truth Social that a further million tonnes would follow, and then another three million tonnes "within a short period of time," though he noted this final delivery would be "based on the condition of their diesel refineries."

Zelensky reacted sharply to the deal, warning that it would provide Moscow with fresh funds to procure military equipment and prolong its war against Ukraine. He accused Russia of interpreting the agreement as a licence to "keep fighting" and "keep dropping bombs on cities," remarks made in the wake of deadly new strikes on Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian president characterised the arrangement as a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump's response was pointed and personal. He told reporters that Zelensky "wants to make problems for the world" by continuing to authorise attacks on Russian oil refineries. "He'd better damn well stop," Trump said, adding that Ukraine should "get a new leader who can make a deal." The US president also claimed that Zelensky "could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does."

The American leader further justified his position by framing Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries as a global economic problem. "We said, 'you can do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries,' because that's a world problem that's caused," Trump explained. His comments signal a significant shift in Washington's posture toward Kyiv, prioritising domestic fuel prices over military support for Ukraine's defensive strategy.

The Kremlin's reaction was swift and approving. Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy to Putin, described Trump's intervention as "iconic and historic," adding that Ukraine "needs leadership actually focused on peace." The remark underscores Moscow's eagerness to capitalise on the rift between Washington and Kyiv, portraying Zelensky as an obstacle to diplomatic resolution.

Zelensky spent Saturday consulting with several allies to discuss the latest developments. He called for "real decisions to protect lives in Ukraine" and to safeguard European security. A Downing Street spokesperson said UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had spoken with Zelensky, and the pair agreed that Russia should accept "an immediate energy ceasefire" and halt attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. "This would immediately release more energy and food supplies into the global market," the spokesperson added.

European officials also voiced strong criticism. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, echoed Zelensky's concerns, stating that suspending sanctions "provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war." She declared: "This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't." Kallas revealed that European foreign ministers intended to approve the biggest set of sanctions on Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion on Monday, signalling a stark transatlantic split over how to handle Moscow.

The diesel deal represents the latest effort by Trump to lower fuel prices in the United States ahead of the midterm elections. For months, his administration has grappled with the political fallout from the Iran war, which began in February and sent the cost of petrol and particularly diesel skyrocketing. The conflict has soured Trump's standing with the American public, who have been hit by higher pump prices and the knock-on effects that fuelled across-the-board inflation.

According to AAA, the average price of diesel currently stands at $6.28 (£4.74) a gallon, up from last month's $5.94 average and $3.68 a year ago. These figures illustrate the domestic pressure driving Trump's outreach to Moscow, even as critics argue the move undermines sanctions designed to constrain Russia's war effort. The arrangement effectively provides Russia with a substantial new revenue stream at a time when Western allies had sought to tighten economic restrictions.

The context of Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure is central to the dispute. Over the past ten months, Russia has experienced two waves of severe fuel shortages across the country due to Ukrainian strikes on its oil refineries. According to the International Energy Agency, diesel production in Russia dropped by an estimated 30 percent. These attacks have been a key element of Ukraine's strategy to degrade Russia's military logistics and economic capacity.

Trump had already called for new elections in Ukraine last December, arguing that Ukrainian voters should have the choice to replace Zelensky. Since the war broke out in 2022, Ukraine has been under martial law, meaning elections are suspended. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits holding elections during a state of emergency, a legal reality that complicates Trump's repeated calls for a leadership change in Kyiv.

The diplomatic rupture comes at a delicate moment in the conflict. Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified their strikes, targeting energy-generating and transport facilities, as well as major logistics hubs. The US-Russia diesel agreement, far from cooling tensions, has instead exposed diverging priorities among Western allies, with Washington focused on fuel prices, Kyiv determined to defend its infrastructure, and Brussels preparing to ratchet up sanctions. The coming days will test whether the transatlantic alliance can reconcile these competing pressures or whether the rift will deepen further.