Ukraine Warupdated 34m ago2 min read
Trump Says Ukraine Should Appoint New President, Presses Zelensky Over Diesel Deal
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Trump says Ukraine should get a new president who can reach a deal. Trump criticizes Zelensky for not ending the war and strikes on refineries.
Trump targets Zelensky
Donald Trump said at the White House that it was time for Ukraine to appoint a new president, criticizing Volodymyr Zelensky for being unable to reach a deal to end the war with Russia. Trump warned Zelensky that he must end Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries, and he said, “I suggest they appoint a new leader who can reach an agreement,” while denouncing the attacks. Trump tied his pressure on Kyiv to a Russo-American diesel arrangement, saying Moscow must deliver 300,000 tons of diesel from October to the United States and the world market before increasing volumes to one million tons in December.
Zaporijia, in southeastern Ukraine, saw an attack that killed 20 people on Saturday, according to the day’s tally, while strikes also hit Kyiv and caused power outages and a temporary suspension of the metro. American envoy Steve Witkoff called the exchanges “constructive,” even as Zelensky denounced a “smokescreen” around the energy deal.
Kyiv rejects the deal
Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the diesel deal as a “gift” to Vladimir Putin, arguing it would allow Russia to kill more people, prolong the war, and inflict greater losses and damage on the world. Trump responded to Zelensky’s criticism by telling reporters outside the White House that Zelensky “wants to make problems for the world” by continuing to authorise attacks on Russian refineries. Kirill Dmitriev described Trump’s intervention as “iconic and historic,” saying that Ukraine “needs leadership actually focused on peace”.
The BBC reported that Trump confirmed on Friday an agreement with Moscow to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April, while Zelensky warned it would allow Moscow to raise new funds to source new military equipment to continue the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha defended Zelensky by saying, “The support of our partners continues unwaveringly,” and by asserting that Zelensky has the support of the Ukrainian people.
Pressure, sanctions, and risk
The diesel deal also triggered criticism inside the United States, with Nebraska Republican Don Bacon writing on X that “buying Russian fuel is the wrong answer.”
Bacon argued that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries targeted facilities that “fuel and finance Putin’s illegal invasion,” and he pointed to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 as Congress sought to increase pressure on Moscow.
Texas Republican Michael McCaul said in a statement posted on X that lifting sanctions on Russian oil would “fund the Kremlin’s war machine,” despite Congress giving Trump additional leverage to pressure Putin through sanctions.
In the United Kingdom, Downing Street said Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Zelensky he had “full solidarity,” and Burnham reiterated London’s commitment to continue hardening sanctions against Russia.
The dispute over diesel and leadership unfolded as Ukrainian drones hit the Yug Rusí oil terminal in the Rostov region, causing a fire and damage to a nearby railway bridge, while Russian air defenses intercepted more than a hundred drones during the operation.