Donald Trump has said Ukraine needs “a new leader,” a day after striking a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy large quantities of Russian diesel. The US president suggested Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not done enough to end the war with Russia and blamed him for high diesel prices in the US.
“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.
Trump made the comments as Russia launched deadly strikes on civilians in Ukraine, which Zelenskyy said were a “thanks” to Trump for the diesel deal.
The Ukrainian president has expressed outrage at the agreement announced by Trump on Friday, which the US president said was needed to reduce diesel prices, and comes ahead of November’s midterm elections in which fuel costs are a key voter issue.
The deal, which appeared to blindside Kyiv as it was announced while Ukrainian negotiators were in Miami for peace talks, was described by Zelenskyy as a “gift” to Russia’s president.
He said Russia would use the money it raised from the fuel sales to invest in its war and that “any easing of sanctions” would play into Russia’s hands, “allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer.”
That prediction was realised hours later, when Ukrainian officials announced that a barrage of Russian strikes on the country’s south-east early on Saturday had killed 20 people, including three children.
View image in fullscreenRescuers working at the site of an apartment building damaged by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia. Photograph: Reuters
“Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy said on social media on Saturday.
“Last night confirmed once again that in Russia, they take any easing of pressure to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they can keep dropping bombs on cities. Different signals are needed,” he said.
There were also “large-scale power outages” in the capital, Kyiv, the country’s largest private energy provider said.
Map of Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine
Andy Burnham reiterated his “complete solidarity” in a call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders agreed to meet in person in the coming days to continue talks.
The prime minister said he recognised the past day had been “difficult for Ukraine” and the two talked about the importance of keeping up pressure on Russia, No 10 said.
In stark contrast to Zelenskyy’s open frustration with Trump, a Kremlin readout of Friday’s call between the US president and Putin was glowing, with the Russian news agency Interfax quoting an aide as saying it was “very substantive and friendly.”
“Neither wanted to be the first to hang up,” the Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said of the two leaders. “They hung up simultaneously, literally at the same time.” Zelenskyy has previously said Putin is playing games with Trump.
The diesel deal disrupts four years of western financial pressure on Moscow and leaves Kyiv’s allies in Europe and Nato scrambling to adapt their sanctions plan. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said the diesel deal “provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war.”
“This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won’t,” she said on Saturday. “On Monday, EU foreign ministers intend to approve the biggest set of sanctions listings targeting Russia’s war machine since the start of the war.” She was referring to plans to formally add 1,600 new individuals and entities to the EU’s sanctions blacklist.
View image in fullscreenKaja Kallas with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a summit in Copenhagen last year. Photograph: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters
Major European governments have attempted to balance their diplomatic and trade relationships with a mercurial Trump and their support for Ukraine.
The more Putin escalates his attacks on Europe, the more Europe should support Ukraine | Timothy Garton AshRead more
The German government spokesperson Stefan KornElius said Berlin “remains committed to the sanctions imposed on Russia and is working with its European partners on further sanctions,” adding that support for Ukraine “remains unwavering.” Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish prime minister, expressed “regret” at the US agreement, saying energy revenues were “a vital source of funding Russia’s war of aggression.” Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Russia “must feel its losses” and has promised to respond. In the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, Ukrainian attacks in the past 24 hours had killed four civilians and wounded five, the region’s Russian-installed governor, Leonid Pasechnik, said on Saturday. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was ready to take “de-escalatory steps” in the war but only if Russia did the same. Russia’s fuel production has become a key point of contention between Zelenskyy and Trump, who has attempted to stop Ukraine from bombing Russian refineries, which he says exacerbates a global diesel shortage. The Ukrainian leader has rejected such requests unless Russia stops attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The Financial Times reported that during the talks in Miami, Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the possibility that US intelligence sharing could be cut off if Kyiv did not halt the strikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Trump Ukraines Leadership and the Diesel Deal with Russia
Note Reports around this topic have shifted over time and some claims havent been fully verified These FAQs reflect the general discussion as its been reported and debated
Beginner Questions
1 What exactly did Trump say about Ukraine needing a new leader
He suggested that Ukraine should hold elections and that its leadership might need to change implying current President Zelensky isnt the right person to end the war
2 What is the diesel deal with Russia
It refers to reports that Ukraine continued buying Russian diesel during the war Critics say it undercuts sanctions others say Ukraine had little choice for fuel supplies
3 Why is Trump linking these two things
He argues that if Ukraine is still doing business with Russia it shows the current leadership is ineffective or hypocriticalso in his view new leadership is needed
4 Did Ukraine actually buy diesel from Russia
Investigative reports have found Russianorigin diesel reaching Ukraine through intermediaries especially early in the war Ukraine says it has worked to cut these imports
5 Is Trumps statement official US policy
No Its his personal position US policy is set by the sitting president and government not by individual statements from former officials
Intermediate Questions
6 Why would Ukraine buy fuel from Russia at all
Ukraines own refineries were destroyed or damaged in the war so it depended heavily on imports Some Russianorigin fuel slipped in via third countries before supply chains were rerouted
7 Doesnt buying Russian diesel fund Russias war
Yes thats the core criticism Even indirect purchases can send money into Russian exporters pockets which is why Ukraine and its allies have tried to eliminate them
8 Can Ukraine legally hold elections during wartime
Ukraines constitution and martial law currently bar elections during wartime Holding them would require legal changes and enormous security logistics
9 What do Ukrainians think about calls for a new leader
Most Ukrainians oppose outside pressure to replace their leadership though support for Zelensky has fluctuated The decision they argue should be theirsnot Trumps or anyone elses
10 How have European allies responded
Most have
