Trump urges Ukraine to choose new president after diesel dispute
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
The new development is Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to get a new president, after Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a US agreement with Russia on diesel exports. Trump accused Zelensky of creating problems by authorising attacks on Russian refineries and said he should make a deal.
The agreement suspends sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. Zelensky and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas say easing sanctions will give Moscow more money to continue the war; Kallas said European ministers planned to approve the EU’s largest Russia sanctions package since the full-scale invasion began. Trump has linked the diesel deal to efforts to lower US fuel prices ahead of midterm elections, as the Iran war has driven up petrol and diesel costs.
- Trump says Ukraine should get a new president.
- US suspends sanctions on Russian diesel until 7 April.
- Zelensky and the EU warn the deal will fund Moscow.
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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the two countries have since fought a war involving attacks on military, energy and transport sites. Volodymyr Zelensky is Ukraine’s president; Donald Trump is the US president, and his administration has sought to influence the course of the conflict.
Sanctions are restrictions intended to limit a country’s trade or access to money and goods. The US and European Union have imposed measures on Russia, including its oil trade, while Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries aim to disrupt fuel production and supply. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, represents the bloc in discussions on its external policy.
The dispute matters because decisions about sanctions and energy exports can affect Russia’s resources for the war, as well as fuel prices and supplies elsewhere. The US midterm elections also give domestic fuel costs political importance for Trump’s administration.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of Trump’s position could argue that Ukraine’s leadership should be open to negotiations and that attacks on refineries risk prolonging the conflict or worsening energy costs. They may see the temporary diesel-sanctions suspension as a pragmatic way to ease fuel prices while creating space for diplomacy, and argue that Ukrainians should be able to choose new leadership if they believe a change would improve prospects for peace.
The case against
Critics could argue that suspending sanctions gives Russia revenue to sustain its invasion, while calling for Ukraine to replace its president risks pressuring an attacked country’s political choices. They may view Ukrainian strikes on refineries as part of its defence and contend that easing economic pressure without firm Russian concessions weakens Ukraine’s position and undermines efforts to deter further aggression.
Full account
Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to choose a new president, saying Volodymyr Zelensky should be replaced by a leader willing to reach a deal. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of creating problems by authorising attacks on Russian oil refineries and said he had turned down opportunities to make agreements. He also said the war should never have begun and blamed it on what he described as incompetence.
The remarks followed a US agreement to temporarily suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Trump said the arrangement would allow Russian fuel into the American and wider global market. The reports describe the scale and terms differently: one says Russia would initially release 300,000 tonnes, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November; the other characterises the deal as almost two million tons of Russian oil. Both link the move to efforts to ease rising fuel costs in the United States ahead of November's mid-term elections.
Zelensky criticised the agreement, arguing that the revenue would help Moscow finance its war and acquire military equipment. He also said the deal could be taken by Russia as permission to continue attacks. His comments came amid intensifying strikes by both sides on energy and transport infrastructure. Reports said Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia killed civilians, though they give differing figures and descriptions of the casualties.
The dispute has drawn concern from European officials. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said easing sanctions would provide Moscow with more income to wage war, and said European ministers planned to approve a further package of sanctions. Zelensky also spoke with several allies, calling for decisions to protect Ukrainian lives and European security. The accounts portray Trump's position as tied to domestic fuel-price pressure, while Ukraine and its European supporters emphasise the military and security consequences of easing restrictions on Russian exports.
Where outlets differ
The first report identifies the product specifically as diesel and gives staged volumes of 300,000 tonnes and a further 500,000 tonnes in November, with the sanctions suspension lasting until 7 April. The second calls it an oil deal and describes almost two million tons of Russian oil being imported, without giving the same schedule or end date.
The first focuses on the sanctions suspension, European reaction and planned EU measures. The second places greater emphasis on the timing before the mid-term elections, claims about Zelensky's earlier requests to stop refinery strikes, and casualties from Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia; it also attributes some claims to Axios or an unnamed US official.
The reports differ in their description of the Zaporizhzhia casualties and do not provide enough common detail to reconcile the figures. Their accounts of the deal's quantity and commodity also differ.
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Originally published by BBC World as “‘Time for Ukraine to get new president,’ says Trump after Zelensky condemns diesel deal”.