Former President Donald Trump has called for a new Ukrainian president, blaming Volodymyr Zelenskyy for failing to end the war with Russia and for high U.S. diesel prices. Trump recently struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase diesel, a move criticized by Ukraine and European allies who argue it funds Russia’s war efforts. The announcement came as Russian strikes killed 20 people in Ukraine, further intensifying global concerns over the conflict and energy prices.
Former President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that it's time for Ukraine to elect a new leader, pinning the blame on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ongoing war with Russia and its purported impact on high diesel prices in the United States.
"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 stated.
Trump's comments followed his recent deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase diesel from Russia, a move aimed at tackling high fuel costs ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. For weeks, Trump has pressed Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and has frequently attributed soaring U.S. diesel prices to the conflict in Ukraine, rather than the U.S.-led war in Iran which has significantly driven up global energy costs.
"He wants to make problems for the world. He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel," Trump remarked before heading to a Republican rally in Tennessee.
Ukrainian and European officials voiced their dismay over Trump's diesel agreement, arguing it would inadvertently finance Russia's war efforts. Diesel prices have escalated due to a confluence of factors, notably the challenges in oil extraction from the Middle East since the Iran war began, impacting all oil product prices.
A recent Associated Press-NORC poll, published October 1, revealed that Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran and hold him responsible for the elevated prices.
Trump further claimed that if he had been U.S. president in 2022, the "war would have never started. There was no reason that war with Ukraine and Russia started. It started due to incompetence."
He criticized Zelenskyy, stating, "He's lost 30% of your country and you've had over a million people go between the two of them, over 2 million people killed. That's a war that should have never started. And I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president."
Independent assessments indicate that approximately 20% of Ukraine's territory is currently under Russian control. British defense officials have estimated around half a million Russian soldiers have perished in the conflict, though reliable figures for Ukrainian casualties remain elusive.
Devastating Russian Strikes Kill 20 in Ukraine
Trump’s controversial remarks came amidst reports of at least 20 people killed in Russian strikes in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday. Three children were among the victims when Russian aerial bombs targeted residential buildings, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, with at least 18 others wounded.
The long-range aerial conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, even as ground forces remain largely stalemated more than four and a half years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine is struggling to defend against intensified Russian bombardments, which have claimed over 60 lives in the past four days.
Kyiv Expresses Outrage Over Trump-Putin Diesel Deal
"Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia," Zelenskyy posted on X, reacting to the deal.
He warned that every additional billion dollars Russia earns from exports would fuel its war machine, funding weapons components, drone upgrades, missile production, and mercenary recruitment. Zelenskyy emphasized that Moscow would only cease hostilities when its capacity to fight is diminished. He also mentioned coordinating measures to counteract Russia's increased revenue and discussed strengthening air defenses with French President Emmanuel Macron, anticipating more missile strikes.
Trump announced Friday that Russia would immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November, and an additional 1 million tons shortly thereafter, with a further 3 million tons within a "short period of time."
In Kyiv, citizens gathered at a memorial for fallen soldiers on Independence Square reacted to the deal with a mix of anger and resignation. Oleksandr Petrenko, 26, commented, "Trump has once again shown his true face. He didn't care about the situation, the shelling or the destruction of our homes. All he's interested in is oil or the fuel prices and how much Americans have to pay." Oksana Yakunina, a financial adviser, noted, "Trump has been working with Putin for a long time."
European Allies Question U.S.-Russia Deal
Ukraine’s European allies also conveyed their displeasure with the agreement, reaffirming their commitment to sanctions against Russia.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed Stockholm's regret, highlighting that "energy revenues are central to the Russian war chest." He pointed out that the European Union was set to implement its most extensive sanctions package yet, targeting 1,600 entities within Russia's military-industrial complex.
German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius reiterated Germany's commitment to existing sanctions and its collaboration with European partners on further measures, affirming unwavering support for Ukraine.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski raised doubts about Russia's ability to deliver on the deal, citing embassy reports of fuel shortages in Moscow and "serious sources" indicating that Ukraine has damaged about half of Russia's refining capacity. He questioned on X, "So where will the surpluses for export come from?"
Trump’s announcement starkly contrasted a sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed last month, which aimed to curb Russia's oil and gas revenues funding its war. The deal was unveiled after Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss a peace proposal. A senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, confirmed Ukraine was unaware of the diesel deal before its announcement and stated it was unrelated to discussions in Florida. The Ukrainian delegation has since departed Florida.
