Trump called Saturday for Ukraine to replace its president after Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a US-Russia agreement to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Trump told reporters outside the White House that Zelensky "wants to make problems for the world" by authorizing attacks on Russian refineries and suggested Ukraine should "get a new leader who can make a deal." He said he had instructed Zelensky to "stop" the attacks, adding that his counterpart "could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does."
Zelensky criticized the diesel deal, which Trump confirmed Friday would suspend sanctions through April 7, as a financial gift to Russia that would fund Moscow's continued war effort. The agreement allows Russia to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel initially, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and a further 4 million tonnes afterward, subject to Russian refinery capacity. Zelensky said the deal would "allow Moscow to raise new funds to source new military equipment" and accused Russia of interpreting it "to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they keep dropping bombs on cities." He spoke with allied leaders Saturday and called for "real decisions to protect lives in Ukraine" and an "immediate energy ceasefire."
The Ukrainian government cannot hold elections because the country has been under martial law since Russia's 2022 invasion. Trump had previously called for new Ukrainian elections in December.
Other leaders also opposed the deal. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham offered Zelensky "complete solidarity" and agreed with him on the need for an energy ceasefire and an end to Russian attacks on Black Sea shipping. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said suspending sanctions "provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war" and that "Europe won't" ease pressure on Russia. She said European foreign ministers planned to approve the largest sanctions package against Russia since the full-scale invasion began.
Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump's intervention "iconic and historic" and said Ukraine "needs leadership actually focused on peace."
Trump framed the deal as an effort to lower fuel prices before midterm elections. The average diesel price stands at $6.28 per gallon, up from $5.94 last month and $3.68 a year ago, according to AAA. The US conflict with Iran since February has driven fuel costs higher and contributed to broader inflation.