US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to elect a new president, accusing Volodymyr Zelensky of repeatedly missing opportunities to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump argued that Zelensky had turned down multiple chances to reach a peace agreement, insisting that the conflict could have been resolved through negotiations.
“Zelensky could have settled this war many times, and he chose not to. It’s very difficult,” Trump said, adding that the war would not have started if he had been president when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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Trump’s remarks have intensified scrutiny of Washington’s approach to the conflict, particularly as diplomatic efforts continue to face major obstacles.
Trump: Ukraine Needs a New Leader
In his strongest criticism yet, Trump suggested that Ukraine needed a leader willing to reach a negotiated settlement with Moscow.
“What do I suggest? I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals, but for some reason he never does,” the US president said.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
The comments place additional pressure on Zelensky, whose government has continued to resist Russia’s invasion while seeking military and diplomatic support from Western allies.
However, any potential peace agreement remains complicated by competing demands over occupied Ukrainian territory, security guarantees and the conditions under which hostilities could end.
Russian Diesel Exports Trigger Fresh Tensions
Trump’s criticism also followed a reported US arrangement to temporarily suspend sanctions affecting Russian diesel exports.
Zelensky had warned that allowing millions of tonnes of Russian diesel to reach the US market could generate additional revenue for Moscow, potentially helping to finance its war effort.
Trump, however, focused on the wider implications of Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that damage to the facilities could disrupt international fuel supplies and push up costs for American farmers and ranchers.
“We said you can do whatever you want to Russia; don’t hurt the refineries because that’s the world’s problem,” Trump said.
He maintained that Russia plays a significant role in global diesel supplies and warned that attacks on its refining infrastructure could have consequences beyond the battlefield.
According to Trump, Ukraine’s strikes risk creating economic difficulties for countries and industries that depend on stable fuel supplies.
The disagreement highlights a growing tension between Ukraine’s efforts to weaken Russia’s war-making capacity and Washington’s concerns about the wider economic consequences of disruptions to energy markets.
Russia-Ukraine War Remains Without a Lasting Settlement
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following years of tensions that included Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine.
The war has caused extensive civilian casualties, widespread displacement and severe damage to Ukrainian infrastructure. Russian forces continue to occupy significant portions of Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv maintains its resistance with support from the United States and European allies.
Despite repeated diplomatic initiatives, the conflict has yet to produce a lasting peace settlement.
Trump’s latest comments raise fresh questions about the future of US support for Ukraine, the conditions for a negotiated agreement and whether Washington and Kyiv can reconcile their differing approaches to ending the war.
For now, the central challenge remains whether diplomacy can produce a settlement that addresses the security concerns of both sides without undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Reference links
Reuters:Trump calls for replacing Zelensky over dispute involving Russian diesel deal.
Al-Jazeera:Coverage of Trump’s call for new Ukrainian leadership amid tensions over Russia.
