Former President Donald Trump has called for a change in Ukrainian leadership, blaming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the nation’s ongoing war with Russia and attributing high U.S. diesel prices to his actions. These comments come after Trump secured a controversial deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase diesel, a move that has sparked significant backlash from Ukraine and its European allies who fear it will fund Russia’s war efforts. Meanwhile, 20 people were killed in a recent Russian bombing in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
In a striking declaration, former President Donald Trump on Saturday asserted that Ukraine needs new leadership, directly criticizing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what he perceives as a failure to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia. Trump additionally attributed high U.S. diesel prices to Zelenskyy's actions.
"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, emphasizing the urgency for a resolution.
This bold pronouncement follows Trump's recent agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase diesel from Russia, a move aimed at lowering fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. For weeks, Trump has been urging Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, shifting the blame for record U.S. diesel prices away from the U.S.-led war in Iran—which has significantly impacted global energy markets—and onto Ukraine.
"He wants to make problems for the world. He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel," Trump commented before heading to a Republican rally in Tennessee.
The diesel deal sparked immediate dismay among Ukrainian and European officials, who argued it would inadvertently fund Russia's war machine. The dramatic increase in diesel prices is largely attributed to complications in oil extraction from the Middle East following the commencement of the Iran war, affecting all petroleum products globally.
A recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, conducted last month, revealed that Americans largely disapprove of Trump's handling of the situation with Iran and hold him responsible for the elevated prices.
Trump also speculated 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 further remarked on the devastating human and territorial losses: "Zelenskyy has 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 analyses estimate that approximately 20% of Ukraine's territory is under Russian occupation. British defense officials recently reported around half a million Russian soldiers killed, while reliable figures for Ukrainian casualties remain elusive.
20 Killed in Russian Bombing in Ukraine
Trump's controversial remarks came as Russian strikes tragically claimed at least 20 lives in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday. Among the victims were three children, killed when Russian aerial bombs struck residential buildings, as confirmed by Ukraine's State Emergency Service. At least 18 others were wounded.
Russia and Ukraine continue to engage in a long-range aerial conflict, while ground forces remain largely stalemated, over 4.5 years into Moscow's full-scale invasion. Ukraine is currently struggling to defend against escalating Russian bombardments, which have resulted in more than 60 deaths in just the past four days.
Kyiv Expresses Anger Over Trump-Putin Deal
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, reacting to Trump's diesel agreement, posted on X: "Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia."
He warned that every additional billion dollars Russia earns from exports directly funds weapons components, drone upgrades, missile production, and mercenary recruitment, suggesting that Moscow would only cease hostilities when its capacity to fight is severely diminished. Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine is coordinating measures to counteract Russia's newfound revenue and discussed strengthening air defenses with French President Emmanuel Macron, anticipating an increased risk of missile strikes.
Trump had 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 "immediately thereafter," with a further 3 million tons expected "within a short period of time."
In Kyiv, citizens gathered at a memorial for fallen soldiers on Independence Square reacted to the news with a mix of anger and resignation. "Trump has once again shown his true face," stated Oleksandr Petrenko, 26, reflecting widespread sentiment that Trump prioritizes fuel prices over the conflict's human cost. Oksana Yakunina, a financial adviser, commented that the announcement "didn't really come as a surprise," citing Trump's long-standing association with Putin.
European Allies Question U.S.-Russia Deal
Ukraine's European allies also expressed considerable dismay over the deal, reaffirming their commitment to sanctions against Russia.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson voiced Stockholm's regret, highlighting that "energy revenues are central to the Russian war chest." He noted that the European Union would soon adopt its most comprehensive sanctions package, targeting Russia's military-industrial complex with 1,600 new listings.
German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius reiterated Germany's commitment to existing sanctions and its collaboration with European partners on further measures, emphasizing unwavering support for Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, however, questioned Russia's ability to fulfill the deal, citing reports of fuel shortages in Moscow and damage to half of Russia's refining capacity by Ukrainian forces. He asked on X: "So where will the surpluses for export come from?"
Trump's announcement stands in stark contrast to a sweeping Russia sanctions law he himself signed last month, which aimed to curtail the oil and gas revenues fueling Russia's war. The deal was announced 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 that Ukraine was unaware of the diesel deal before its announcement and clarified that it was unrelated to discussions in Florida. The Ukrainian delegation has since departed Florida, returning to Ukraine.
