US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to elect a new president, accusing Volodymyr Zelensky of repeatedly passing up opportunities to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Trump made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to reporters at the White House, arguing that Zelensky had failed to take advantage of opportunities to reach an agreement to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Zelensky could have settled this war many times, and he chose not to. It’s very difficult,” Trump said, adding that the conflict would not have started if he had been president when Russia launched its invasion.
The latest criticism comes amid growing disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over the war, particularly following a US agreement with Moscow to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports.
Zelensky had warned that allowing millions of tonnes of Russian diesel to be supplied to the United States would provide Moscow with additional revenue to finance its military campaign against Ukraine.
Trump, however, blamed Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries for creating problems in international energy markets, arguing that the strikes could reduce diesel supplies and increase fuel costs for American farmers and ranchers.
“We said you [Zelensky] can do whatever you want to Russia; don’t hurt the refineries because that’s the world’s problem,” Trump said.
The US president maintained that Ukraine’s military actions were affecting more than the battlefield, warning that disruptions to Russian fuel production could have consequences for countries that depend on its energy supplies.
“And he wants to make problems for the world; he wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world,” Trump added.
Trump said he had advised Zelensky against targeting Russian refineries because of their importance to international fuel markets. He argued that the Ukrainian president’s decision to continue the attacks was contributing to wider economic difficulties.
Expressing frustration with Zelensky’s approach to negotiations, Trump questioned why the Ukrainian leader had not accepted opportunities to reach a settlement with Moscow.
“But what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel. Do you know what I suggest? I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he [Zelensky] could have made many deals, but for some reason he never does,” Trump said.
He then made his position clear, calling for a change in Ukraine’s leadership.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” the US president added.
Background to the Russia-Ukraine War
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following years of tensions between the two countries. The conflict dates back further, including Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The war has resulted in extensive civilian casualties, the displacement of millions of people and widespread destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure.
Russian forces continue to occupy significant portions of Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv maintains its military resistance with support from Western allies, including the United States and European countries.
Although diplomatic efforts have repeatedly sought to end the conflict, negotiations have yet to produce a lasting ceasefire or a comprehensive peace agreement.
Trump’s latest remarks underline the continuing disagreements between the US president and Zelensky over how the war should end, as disputes over Russian energy exports and Ukraine’s attacks on oil infrastructure add another layer of tension to their relationship.
