WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump asserted Saturday that it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president,” escalating a sharp public dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a new U.S. agreement to import Russian diesel fuel.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House prior to departing for a rally in Tennessee, Trump demanded that Zelenskyy halt Ukrainian attacks against Russian oil refineries. The president argued that those strikes disrupt the global energy sector and exacerbate international fuel shortages.
“It’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump said, adding: “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 of Zelenskyy, “He’d better damn well stop,” and criticized the Ukrainian leader for failing to secure a peace agreement to conclude the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Dispute Over Sanctions Suspension
The confrontation follows Trump’s announcement Friday that Washington had negotiated an arrangement with Moscow to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel shipments until April 7. The pact clears the way for millions of tons of Russian fuel to flow into the U.S. and worldwide markets, as Trump attempts to curb domestic pump prices amid energy pressures connected to conflict with Iran.
According to figures Trump released, Russia is slated to immediately provide more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November and one million tons shortly afterward, with an additional three million tons expected later, The Associated Press reported.
Zelenskyy forcefully condemned the measure, warning that diesel revenue directly finances Moscow’s military operations. Writing on social media Saturday, Zelenskyy noted that Russian aerial bombings killed at least 20 people in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, including three children, just hours after the deal was revealed. He contended Moscow interpreted the easing of sanctions as a signal that “they can keep dropping bombs on cities.”
“Russia’s choice is war,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram, emphasizing that each extra billion dollars in Russian export earnings funds drone enhancements, missile manufacturing and mercenary recruitment.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised Trump’s statement as “iconic and historic,” contending that Ukraine requires leaders dedicated to peace, the BBC reported.
Allied Pushback and Stalled Talks
The deal drew swift unease among European partners. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed regret over the arrangement, citing the vital role energy revenue plays in Russia’s military budget, while noting that the European Union plans to unveil fresh sanctions targeting Russia’s defense sector, according to The Associated Press. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski openly questioned whether Russia can fulfill the deliveries, pointing to Ukrainian damage against Russian refining facilities and domestic shortages in Moscow.
The announcement also cast a shadow over diplomatic discussions. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had convened with Ukrainian representatives in Miami on Friday to review proposals aimed at ending the fighting. Zelenskyy criticized the timing, stating he felt his delegation was “simply being used as a smoke screen.”
A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Kyiv was given no advance notice of the diesel agreement and that the Ukrainian negotiators have departed Florida to return home.
