Trump Says Ukraine Needs a New President After Zelensky Condemns the US-Russia Diesel Deal

President Trump told reporters Ukraine should 'get a new leader who can make a deal' after Volodymyr Zelensky called an American agreement to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports a 'gift' to Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine needs a new president, deepening a public rupture with Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader condemned an American deal to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports.

"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 told reporters outside the White House. He added that Zelensky "wants to make problems for the world" by continuing to authorize strikes on Russian refineries. "He'd better damn well stop."

The agreement, confirmed by Trump on Friday, suspends sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. Under the terms Trump announced on Truth Social, Russia would release an initial 300,000 tonnes of diesel "to the American and global marketplace," another 500,000 tonnes in November, a further 1 million tonnes, and then 3 million more "within a short period of time." Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the intervention "iconic and historic."

Zelensky called the deal a "gift" to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that Moscow would use the proceeds to buy weapons and prolong the war. "Any easing of sanctions" would play into Russia's hands, he said, "allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer." The announcement appeared to blindside Kyiv: Ukrainian negotiators were in Miami for peace talks when it was made. Zelensky said later that Russia "must feel its losses," and that Ukraine was ready to take "de-escalatory steps" only if Russia did the same.

The move is the latest effort by Trump to drive down fuel prices ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. The US- and Israel-led war against Iran, which began in February, effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil products, pushing diesel to near record highs. A gallon of diesel now costs $6.28 on average, according to AAA — up from $5.94 a month earlier and $3.68 a year ago.

European allies were sharply critical. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said suspending sanctions "provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war," adding: "This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't." Germany's government said Berlin remained committed to the sanctions already in place. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reiterated his "complete solidarity" with Zelensky in a call, and the two agreed to meet in person in the coming days.

Russia's diesel output has fallen by an estimated 30 percent over the past year amid Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries, according to the International Energy Agency — a strain the deal may relieve. Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, which suspended elections. Trump first called for new elections in Ukraine last December.

Sources: BBC News | The Guardian | Al Jazeera