‘Time for Ukraine to get new president,’ says Trump after Zelensky condemns diesel deal
Trump Calls for New Ukrainian Leadership After Diesel Agreement With Russia
Ninoda.com – US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine should have a new president after Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Washington’s agreement to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports. The dispute comes as the war in Ukraine, attacks on energy facilities and the conflict involving Iran have placed exceptional pressure on global fuel supplies.
Speaking to journalists outside the White House on Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of prolonging international difficulties by permitting strikes on Russian oil-refining sites. He argued that damage to refineries had become a global economic issue because it reduced available fuel supplies.
“He’d better damn well stop,” Trump said, adding that Ukraine should find “a new leader who can make a deal”.
Zelensky has remained in office since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine has been governed under martial law during the conflict, and elections cannot be held while that emergency regime is in force.
Diesel Deal Deepens Political Rift
Trump confirmed on Friday that the United States and Russia had reached an arrangement suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. The plan is intended to move Russian fuel into American and international markets at a time when diesel prices have risen sharply.
Under the agreement, Russia is expected to provide an initial 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November. Trump said another one million tonnes would come later, with a further three million tonnes potentially supplied soon afterwards. He noted that the timing of the final shipment would depend on the condition of Russia’s diesel refineries.
Zelensky warned that the policy would give Moscow fresh financial resources that could be used to buy military equipment and continue the invasion. He said Russia could interpret the deal as permission to keep fighting and continue bombing Ukrainian cities, following deadly new strikes on Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine and Russia have both stepped up attacks against each other’s energy and transport systems in recent months. Ukrainian drone operations against Russian refining capacity have contributed to severe fuel shortages inside Russia during two periods over the past 10 months. Russian diesel output fell by an estimated 30%, the International Energy Agency has said.
Trump said Washington had told Kyiv it could take action against Russia but should avoid refinery targets because of the impact on fuel markets.
“We said, ‘you can do whatever you want to Russia, don’t hit the refineries’, because that’s a world problem that’s caused,” Trump said.
He also said Zelensky had missed previous opportunities for an agreement with Moscow.
Energy Market Pressure Shapes US Policy
The diesel arrangement reflects the administration’s broader effort to bring down fuel costs before the US midterm elections. The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began in February, has disrupted a major global energy route and added to inflationary pressure for households and businesses.
The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed by the conflict. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil products would normally pass through that waterway, making the disruption important far beyond the Middle East. Reduced supplies have particularly affected diesel, a fuel used widely in road freight, agriculture, construction and shipping.
Average diesel prices in the United States have reached $6.28 per gallon, or £4.74. That is higher than the $5.94 average recorded last month and far above the $3.68 figure a year earlier. Higher fuel prices can spread through the economy as transport costs increase the price of goods and services.
The political pressure has intensified after months of public concern over the effects of the Iran conflict on petrol prices, diesel costs and broader inflation. Trump’s diesel deal seeks to add supply quickly, but it has also exposed sharp divisions among US, Ukrainian and European leaders over whether economic relief should come at the cost of reducing pressure on Moscow.
European Leaders Reject Easing Pressure
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticised the suspension of sanctions, saying it would provide Russia with additional money for the war. She said Europe had no intention of easing pressure and that foreign ministers planned to approve what she described as the largest sanctions package against Russia since the full-scale invasion began.
Russia welcomed Trump’s comments. Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy for President Vladimir Putin, called the intervention “iconic and historic” and said Ukraine needed leadership focused on peace.
Zelensky spent Saturday speaking with several allied leaders, seeking decisions that would protect Ukrainians and strengthen European security. The talks centred on the latest developments in the war and the consequences of the diesel agreement.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also spoke with Zelensky and offered what Downing Street described as complete solidarity. The two leaders agreed that Russia should accept an immediate ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and stop attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. Such steps, they said, could allow more energy and food supplies to reach global markets.
The disagreement illustrates how closely the military conflict and global energy prices have become linked. Ukraine sees sanctions as a central means of limiting Russia’s ability to finance its war. Trump, facing domestic pressure over fuel costs, has instead emphasised the need to restore diesel supply. As the competing priorities collide, the debate over Ukraine’s leadership, military strategy and energy policy is likely to become even more contentious.
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