US President Donald Trump has called for a new president in Ukraine after Volodymyr Zelensky criticised a US deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, saying it would help Moscow fund its war.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of creating problems by continuing to authorise attacks on Russian oil refineries, reports BBC.
“He’d better damn well stop,” Trump said, suggesting that Ukraine should “get a new leader who can make a deal”.
Zelensky had warned that allowing millions of tonnes of Russian diesel to enter the US market would provide Moscow with additional funds to sustain its war against Ukraine.
He described the agreement as a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine has remained under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, suspending elections.
Global fuel supplies have come under severe pressure following the war against Iran launched by the US and Israel. The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil products usually pass.
Russia, a major fuel producer, and Ukraine have also stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure and transport facilities, adding to the strain on global energy 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 could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does.”
Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Putin, welcomed Trump’s remarks, describing his intervention as “iconic and historic”. He said Ukraine “needs leadership actually focused on peace”.
Trump confirmed on Friday that Washington and Moscow had reached an agreement to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April.
Zelensky warned that the move would enable Russia to generate fresh revenue to purchase military equipment and continue its war.
He also accused Moscow of interpreting the agreement as permission to continue its military campaign, saying the deal would “mean they can keep fighting, to mean they keep dropping bombs on cities” after deadly Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia.
The Ukrainian president spoke to several allies on Saturday about the latest developments, urging them to take “real decisions to protect lives in Ukraine” and safeguard European security.
A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the prime minister had spoken to Zelensky and offered his “complete solidarity”.
The two leaders agreed that Russia should accept “an immediate energy ceasefire” and stop attacking shipping in the Black Sea, the spokesperson said. Such a move “would immediately release more energy and food supplies into the global market”, the spokesperson added.
The agreement also drew criticism from European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, who echoed Zelensky’s concerns that suspending sanctions “provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war”.
“This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won’t,” she said.
Kallas added that European foreign ministers planned to approve the largest package of sanctions against Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion on Monday.
The diesel agreement marks Trump’s latest attempt to bring down fuel prices in the US ahead of the midterm elections, following months of political pressure over the war against Iran.
The conflict, which began in February, has sharply increased petrol prices, particularly diesel, damaging Trump’s standing among Americans facing higher costs at the pump and broader inflationary pressures.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) put the average price of diesel at $6.28 (£4.74) a gallon, up from $5.94 last month and $3.68 a year ago.
Under the agreement, Russia would initially supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November.
Trump said on Truth Social that a further one million tonnes would follow, with another three million tonnes arriving “within a short period of time”. However, he said the additional delivery would depend on “the condition of their diesel refineries”.
Russia has faced two waves of severe fuel shortages over the past 10 months following Ukrainian drone attacks on its oil refineries.
The International Energy Agency estimated that Russian diesel production had fallen by around 30 per cent.
Trump had called for new elections in Ukraine last December, arguing that Ukrainian voters should have the opportunity to replace Zelensky.
However, Ukraine’s continued martial law since Russia’s 2022 invasion has suspended elections.
