US President Donald Trump has called for new leadership in Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a US deal to buy large quantities of Russian diesel, which Kyiv says would help fund Moscow's war effort.
Key facts
- Trump said it is 'time for Ukraine to get a new president,' according to the BBC.
- Zelensky had condemned a US-Russia deal to release diesel into the US, saying it would help Moscow fund the war.
- Trump made the deal with Vladimir Putin to buy large quantities of Russian diesel, according to the Guardian.
- Trump blamed Zelensky for high diesel prices in the US and suggested he has not done enough to end the war.
- Ukrainian and European officials reacted with dismay to the diesel deal, according to CNBC.
US President Donald Trump has said it is time for Ukraine to get a new president, intensifying his criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader condemned a US deal to buy Russian diesel. According to the BBC, Trump said Zelensky “wants to make problems for the world.”
The dispute centres on a deal Trump made with Russian President Vladimir Putin to buy large quantities of Russian diesel, as reported by the Guardian. Zelensky had said the agreement to release diesel into the US would help Moscow fund its war against Ukraine.
Trump suggested that Zelensky has not done enough to end the war with Russia, the Guardian reported. He also blamed the Ukrainian president for high diesel prices in the United States.
Al Jazeera reported that Trump criticised Zelensky as he called for new leadership in Ukraine. The remarks escalate an already tense relationship between the two leaders over the direction of the war.
Ukrainian and European officials reacted to the diesel deal with dismay, according to CNBC, saying it would help pay for Putin’s war efforts. The reaction underscores concern among Kyiv’s allies about the agreement’s implications.
The exchange marks a significant public rift between Washington and Kyiv, with Trump linking domestic US fuel prices to his assessment of Ukraine’s wartime leadership.
Why it matters
A public call by the US president for a change in Ukraine's leadership signals a potential shift in the relationship between two key allies during an ongoing war. The diesel deal and the dispute around it also tie international conflict directly to domestic fuel prices in the United States, raising questions about Washington's priorities and support for Kyiv.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump say about Ukraine's president?
Trump said it is time for Ukraine to get a new president and suggested Volodymyr Zelensky has not done enough to end the war with Russia. He also said Zelensky 'wants to make problems for the world,' according to the BBC.
Why did Zelensky condemn the diesel deal?
Zelensky said the US deal with Russia to release diesel into the US would help Moscow fund its war, according to the BBC.
How did officials react to the diesel deal?
According to CNBC, Ukrainian and European officials reacted with dismay, saying the deal would help pay for Putin's war efforts.