Trump Calls for New Ukrainian President, Slams Zelenskyy Over Russian Refinery Strikes

Trump Urges Zelenskyy to Halt Russian Refinery Strikes, Calls for New Ukrainian Leader

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, questioning his leadership and calling for a leader willing to negotiate a peace deal. The remarks come amid growing disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over a US-backed arrangement to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump issued a stern warning over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

“He better damn well stop,” Trump said, referring to the refinery strikes. He also questioned Zelenskyy’s ability to negotiate an agreement, adding, “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.”

The comments followed Trump’s announcement of an arrangement allowing Russian diesel to reach global markets. Zelenskyy has criticised the move, arguing that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports would provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain its war against Ukraine.

According to an Axios report citing a US official familiar with the discussions, Trump decided to proceed with the arrangement after Ukraine did not comply with six US requests to halt attacks on Russian refineries.

The disagreement highlights differing priorities between the two governments. Washington is concerned about rising fuel costs, while Kyiv maintains that relaxing restrictions on Russian energy exports could strengthen Moscow’s ability to continue its military campaign.

Trump Links Refinery Attacks to US Fuel Costs

The Trump administration’s efforts to persuade Ukraine to stop targeting Russian refineries are partly driven by concerns over fuel prices in the United States, the official told Axios.

According to the report, Trump wanted Ukraine to suspend the attacks without making the decision conditional on Russia agreeing to stop strikes against Ukrainian power infrastructure.

During discussions with Trump and his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Zelenskyy reportedly offered to halt refinery strikes if Moscow stopped targeting Ukraine’s electricity facilities. However, Trump wanted Kyiv to end the attacks regardless of whether Russia made a similar commitment, the official said.

The administration believes that attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are contributing to financial pressure on American consumers.

“The attacks on the refineries cause pain in Russia, but it causes pain for the US, too,” the official said.

The official also suggested that Trump did not consider Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries equivalent to Russian strikes on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure.

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russia’s energy sector in recent months, disrupting operations at several facilities. Russia subsequently imposed a ban on diesel exports, tightening global supplies as the war in Iran added further pressure to energy markets.

US and Ukrainian Officials Hold Eight-Hour Talks

The dispute featured prominently in discussions between American and Ukrainian representatives in Miami on Friday. Witkoff and Kushner held around eight hours of talks with Ukrainian negotiators as diplomatic efforts to end the war continued.

During the meeting, the US envoys reportedly informed their Ukrainian counterparts that Trump was expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and move ahead with easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports.

They also explained that the decision followed repeated US requests for Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries, according to the official cited by Axios.

A Ukrainian official alleged that Witkoff and Kushner warned that continued resistance could prompt Trump to suspend US intelligence support for Ukraine.

However, the US official disputed that account, saying the envoys had instead stressed the importance of American assistance, including weapons and intelligence, while urging Kyiv to avoid actions that could increase costs for US consumers.

The exchange underscores the challenges facing Washington’s efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. The US administration wants Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries, while Kyiv argues that Moscow should not benefit financially from the relaxation of sanctions.

Zelenskyy Calls US Diesel Arrangement a ‘Gift’ to Putin

Zelenskyy has strongly opposed the US decision, warning that allowing Russian diesel exports would give Moscow additional resources to continue its military operations.

The Ukrainian president described the arrangement as a “gift” to Putin, arguing that easing sanctions could enable Russia to prolong the war and lead to further casualties.

He also accused Moscow of responding to the relaxation of restrictions with additional attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

“Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Saturday.

Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes in the country’s south-eastern region killed 15 people, including three children, early on Saturday. The reported casualties came hours after Zelenskyy warned that reducing pressure on Moscow could encourage further attacks.

“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. Different signals are needed,” he said.

Meanwhile, widespread power outages were reported in Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s largest private energy provider.

The latest exchange has highlighted the widening differences between Washington and Kyiv over how to bring the war to an end. Trump has defended the diesel arrangement amid concerns about fuel prices, while Zelenskyy maintains that easing restrictions on Russian exports would provide Moscow with further financial resources to sustain its invasion.