US President Donald Trump said Saturday that it is "time for Ukraine to get a new president," suggesting Volodymyr Zelensky is incapable of reaching a deal to end the war with Russia. The remarks came a day after Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release large volumes of Russian diesel into the US and global markets, which Zelensky condemned as "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged."
Trump told reporters at the White House that Zelensky was "making problems for the world" by continuing to authorize Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he blamed for high US diesel prices. "He'd better damn well stop," Trump said. "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal, because he could have made many deals and for some reason he never does."
The remarks prompted objections from Kyiv's allies and from members of Trump's own party, and they followed a deadly Russian attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia.
What the deal does
Trump announced Friday that, after a call with Putin, Russia would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel "immediately," another 500,000 tons in November, and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter," with a further 3 million tons to follow "within a short period of time." He said the final tranche would depend on the condition of Russian refineries.
The US Treasury Department then issued a temporary waiver easing sanctions on Russian diesel exports. The full terms of the arrangement were not immediately clear, and the Kremlin publicly confirmed only Russia's readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to US and global markets.
The announcement reversed years of US policy aimed at cutting Russian energy revenue following Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It came less than a month before the November midterm elections, with diesel prices averaging about $6.28 a gallon, up from $3.68 a year earlier, according to AAA figures cited in US media.
Zelensky: 'Gifts to Putin will not bring peace'
Zelensky said the accord would hand Moscow fresh revenue to sustain its war effort. "Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged," he wrote on social media. "Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will 'repay' the diesel with further terror and perfidy."
He described the move as "a weak decision on the part of strong partners" and said the timing — announced while a Ukrainian delegation was meeting US negotiators in Florida — suggested his team was being used as a "smokescreen." A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kyiv had not been informed of the deal before it was announced.
On Saturday, Zelensky linked the sanctions relief directly to a Russian glide-bomb attack on Zaporizhzhia that killed at least 20 people, including three children, according to Ukraine's state rescue service. "Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia," he wrote.
Republican lawmakers object to the deal
Several Republican lawmakers criticized the deal, arguing it undercuts sanctions legislation Congress passed in September. Senator John Kennedy said he supported the president's push to lower diesel prices but not importing fuel "from Putin," whom he called "a butcher."
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick introduced a bipartisan bill, the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act, to block the sanctions relief, with Representative Don Bacon as an early co-sponsor. Representative Michael McCaul said he was "concerned the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will only fund the Kremlin's war machine." Senator Lisa Murkowski said Trump should be using existing authorities rather than allowing Russia to "rake in revenues."
European allies maintain sanctions pressure
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said suspending sanctions "provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war," adding: "This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't." European foreign ministers were expected to approve a new sanctions package on Monday.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelensky and offered his "complete solidarity," a Downing Street spokesperson said. The two leaders agreed on the need for an "immediate energy ceasefire" and an end to Russian attacks on Black Sea shipping. Burnham also pledged that Britain would strengthen its sanctions on Russia.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga backed Zelensky, saying he "has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide." Ukraine has been under martial law since the 2022 invasion, meaning elections are suspended.
What is confirmed, and what is not
Confirmed: Trump announced the diesel supply agreement Friday; the Treasury issued a temporary sanctions waiver; Trump called Saturday for new Ukrainian leadership; at least 20 people were killed in Zaporizhzhia; and the deal has drawn objections from Kyiv, European capitals and Republican members of Congress.
Uncertain: whether the agreed volumes will actually be delivered, given reported damage to Russian refining capacity and domestic fuel shortages in Russia; whether the deal will meaningfully lower US diesel prices before the midterms — energy analysts quoted in US media suggested the impact may be modest and slow; and the precise terms and duration of the waiver.
Still awaited: details of the Treasury waiver and any delivery schedule; the outcome of the Miami talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators; the European Union's planned sanctions package; and any response from the White House or Congress on legislative efforts to block the agreement.