Trump Says Ukraine Needs a New President After Zelensky Slams Diesel Deal
Story By Staff Reporter
Donald Trump has said it is “time for Ukraine to get a new president” after Volodymyr Zelensky criticised a US agreement with Russia on diesel.
Zelensky had warned that the arrangement, which would put millions of tonnes of Russian diesel on the market, would hand Moscow revenue to keep fighting. He described it as a gift to Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of “wanting to make problems for the world” by continuing to approve strikes on Russian refineries. “He’d better damn well stop,” he said, adding that Ukraine should find “a new leader who can make a deal.”
Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s 2022 invasion, so elections are suspended.
A global fuel squeeze
Fuel supplies worldwide, diesel included, have been badly squeezed by the US-Israeli war on Iran. That conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries around a fifth of the world’s oil products. Russia, a major producer, and Ukraine have lately stepped up attacks on each other’s energy and transport infrastructure, putting more strain on the markets.
Trump said Washington had told Kyiv it could do what it liked to Russia except hit the refineries, “because that’s a world problem.” He added that Zelensky “could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does.”
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s remarks “iconic and historic” and said Ukraine “needs leadership actually focused on peace.”
The deal
On Friday Trump confirmed an agreement with Moscow to pause sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. Zelensky said this would let Russia raise fresh funds to buy more military equipment.
Under the terms, Russia would first release 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the American and global market, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November. Trump wrote on Truth Social that a further million tonnes would follow, then 3 million more “within a short period of time,” though he said that final delivery depends on the state of Russia’s refineries.
Reaction from allies
Zelensky spoke with several allies on Saturday, calling 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 expressed his “complete solidarity.” The two agreed that Russia should accept “an immediate energy ceasefire” and stop attacking shipping in the Black Sea, which the spokesperson said would quickly free up more energy and food supplies worldwide.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also condemned the deal. Echoing Zelensky, she said lifting sanctions “provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war,” and added: “This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won’t.” She said European foreign ministers plan to approve the largest package of sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion began, on Monday.
Pressure at home
The war with Iran, which began in February, has driven up petrol prices and especially diesel, hurting Trump’s standing with Americans facing higher pump costs and wider inflation. According to AAA, diesel now averages $6.28 (£4.74) a gallon, up from $5.94 last month and $3.68 a year ago.
Russia’s own fuel problems
Over the past 10 months, Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have caused two waves of severe fuel shortages across Russia. The International Energy Agency estimates the country’s diesel output fell by about 30%.
Reporting based on original coverage by BBC.
