President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to elect a new leader, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of stalling efforts to end the war with Russia.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump said on Saturday before departing for a midterm campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee.
“I suggest Ukraine gets a new leader who can make a deal,” the president told reporters. “For some reason, Zelensky never does deals.”
Trump claimed that Zelensky could have settled the war several times but “chooses not to” and wants to cause problems for the world and American farmers by targeting Russian refineries.
The remarks followed Zelensky’s criticism of President Trump’s deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply millions of tons of Russian diesel to the United States and global markets.
The agreement, which includes a temporary waiver of US Treasury sanctions on Russian diesel exports, has sparked a backlash from Europe and American lawmakers.
According to Zelensky, allowing Moscow to sell oil products was a green light to Russia, signalling that it could “keep attacking” Ukraine. He said the decision “needs to be corrected.”
Writing on X, the Ukrainian leader called for “strong signals” from the US, Europe and other partners to “restrict Russia’s ability to wage war and terrorize people.”
Zelensky spoke with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Saturday amid the latest Russian strikes.
Trump asks Ukraine to replace Zelensky over protracted Russian war