WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump called on Saturday for Ukraine to “get a new leader,” after Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Washington’s easing of sanctions on Russian diesel.
Trump faces pressure over fuel prices weeks before next month’s midterm elections.
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal, because he could have made many deals that, for some reason, he never does,” Trump said.
He accused Zelensky of disobeying his orders not to strike Russian refineries, saying the attacks risked worsening fuel shortages linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
“He better damn well stop,” Trump said.
Trump defended Friday’s deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release large amounts of Russian diesel onto world markets.
“Russia would like to make a deal...
but for whatever reason, Zelensky does not want to make a deal,” he told reporters.
“President Putin would like to see a settlement, strongly.” He also criticized Zelensky for not holding an election since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Kyiv and its European allies warned that easing pressure on Moscow would help fund the war.
