Trump calls for Ukraine to replace Zelenskiy, criticises attacks on Russian refineries
Trump called for Ukraine to replace Zelenskiy amid a dispute over a Russian diesel deal, which Zelenskiy said had emboldened Moscow.
Washington, United States. US President Donald Trump on Saturday called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and criticised Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. His remarks came a day after he announced a diesel supply deal with Russia that drew a sharp rebuke from Zelenskiy.
Trump criticises refinery strikes
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House, saying Zelenskiy had hurt global diesel supplies through strikes on Russian refineries.
“He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world.”
A steep rise in global diesel prices following the outbreak of the Iran war in February has become a political liability for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Opposition Democrats could gain control of one or both houses of Congress.
Zelenskiy says diesel deal emboldens Moscow
Earlier on Saturday, Zelenskiy said Trump’s announcement on Friday of the diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin had emboldened Moscow. Kyiv has instead urged Washington to pressure Moscow into serious negotiations to end the four-and-a-half-year war.
In some of his harshest criticism yet of the White House, Zelenskiy linked the US lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel to a Russian attack on Saturday that killed 20 people, including three children, in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia.
The Russian government said on Saturday that it had partially lifted a ban on diesel exports.
“Today, Russia said thank you for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskiy said.
“Last night provided yet more confirmation that Russia perceives any easing of pressure as a signal that it can supposedly keep fighting, that it can supposedly keep dropping bombs on cities. Different signals are needed.”
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