Trump Calls for New Ukrainian Leader After Zelenskyy Condemns Diesel Deal

US President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to get a new leader after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned a deal to allow Russian diesel exports to the United States, saying it would give Moscow more money to wage war.

“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Saturday, according to the BBC. He accused Zelenskyy of making “problems for the world” by continuing to authorize attacks on Russian refineries. “He’d better damn well stop,” Trump said, before suggesting Ukraine should “get a new leader who can make a deal.”

Trump confirmed Friday that Washington and Moscow had agreed to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7. He said the agreement was needed to lower diesel prices. The BBC reported that it was part of his effort to reduce US fuel costs ahead of the midterm elections, after the war in Iran drove up petrol and diesel prices.

Zelenskyy called the agreement a “gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Guardian reported. He said Russia would use revenue from fuel sales to buy military equipment and that “any easing of sanctions” would allow it “to kill more, wage war for longer”.

Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes in the country’s southeast early Saturday killed 15 people, including three children, according to The Guardian. “Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “Last night confirmed once again that in Russia, they take any easing of pressure to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they can keep dropping bombs on cities.” The Guardian also reported that Ukraine’s largest private energy provider announced large-scale power outages in Kyiv.

The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said suspending sanctions “provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war”. She added: “This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won’t.” EU foreign ministers intend on Monday to approve what she called the biggest set of sanctions listings targeting Russia’s war effort since the full-scale invasion began. The Guardian reported that the plan would add 1,600 individuals and entities to the EU’s sanctions blacklist.

Germany remains committed to sanctions and support for Ukraine, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said, according to The Guardian. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed “regret” at the US agreement, saying energy revenues were a vital source of funding for Russia’s war.

Trump has urged Ukraine not to strike Russian refineries, saying the attacks worsen a global diesel shortage. Zelenskyy has rejected that request unless Russia stops attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, The Guardian reported. He said Saturday that Ukraine was ready to take “de-escalatory steps” if Russia did the same. The Guardian also reported that the Russian-installed governor of the occupied Luhansk region said Ukrainian attacks there over the preceding 24 hours had killed four civilians and wounded five.

The Financial Times reported, according to The Guardian, that Trump’s envoys raised the possibility of cutting off US intelligence sharing during peace talks in Miami if Kyiv did not halt refinery strikes.