Trump Calls for New Ukraine President After Zelensky Criticism

US President Donald Trump said he believes Ukraine should have new leadership after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized a US agreement with Russia on diesel exports, which Trump said was intended to address fuel concerns while fighting continues between Russia and Ukraine. Trump made the comments outside the White House after Zelensky argued the diesel arrangement could give Moscow additional revenue to continue its war. Russia and Ukraine have recently increased strikes against energy, transport, and logistics facilities. Trump said Zelensky's actions were creating wider problems and argued Ukraine should choose a leader willing to negotiate.

"It's time for Ukraine to get a new president," said Donald Trump, US President.

Trump said Zelensky was making the situation harder by continuing to approve attacks on Russian refineries. He also criticized the lack of previous agreements between Kyiv and Moscow. "He wants to make problems for the world," said Donald Trump, US President.

Trump referred to negotiations and said he believed Ukraine needed a different approach to reaching an agreement. "Get a new leader who can make a deal," said Donald Trump, US President.

Trump also called on Ukraine to stop attacks that he said could affect global energy supplies. "He'd better damn well stop," said Donald Trump, US President. Trump described previous discussions about restrictions on attacks against energy infrastructure and said such strikes had broader consequences.

"We said, 'you can do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries', because that's a world problem that's caused," said Donald Trump, US President.

Trump added that he believed multiple opportunities for agreements had been missed. "He could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does," said Donald Trump, US President. Zelensky said the diesel deal would allow Russia to gain funds for military supplies. He also discussed the issue with allies while seeking measures to protect Ukraine and European security.

"To mean they can keep fighting, to mean they keep dropping bombs on cities," said Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.

The UK government said Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelensky and agreed Russia should stop attacks on energy and shipping routes in the Black Sea. "An immediate energy ceasefire," said a Downing Street spokesperson.

The spokesperson said such a step could increase energy and food supplies available to global markets. "Real decisions to protect lives in Ukraine," said Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.

European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas criticized the suspension of sanctions linked to Russian diesel exports and said Europe would continue pressure on Moscow. "This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't," said Kaja Kallas, EU foreign affairs chief. Kallas said European foreign ministers planned to approve the biggest set of sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion began.

Trump said Russia would initially release 300,000 tonnes of diesel followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and additional deliveries. He said supplies would depend on refinery conditions.

"To the American and global marketplace," said Donald Trump, US President. Trump wrote that another 3 million tonnes could arrive soon if conditions allowed. "Within a short period of time," said Donald Trump, US President.

He added that future deliveries depended on Russian refinery capacity.

"Based on the condition of their diesel refineries," said Donald Trump, US President. Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev supported Trump's comments and described the intervention as significant for discussions about Ukraine's leadership.

"Iconic and historic," said Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy. Dmitriev said Ukraine required leadership focused on ending the conflict.

"Needs leadership actually focused on peace," said Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy.