US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to elect a new leader, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of rejecting opportunities to negotiate an end to the war with Russia. At a White House press conference, Trump criticized Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing they threatened global diesel supplies and could increase fuel costs for American farmers and ranchers. He claimed Zelensky's actions were detrimental to US interests.
Trump made these remarks a day after announcing a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on diesel supplies, which drew criticism from Zelensky. The Ukrainian president argued that easing pressure on Moscow would encourage further attacks rather than push Russia towards peace negotiations. Zelensky's comments came after a Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed 20 people, including three children.
The Ukrainian president stated that Russia perceived any easing of pressure as a signal to continue fighting. He emphasized that different signals were needed to push Russia towards peace talks. This incident was the third mass-casualty incident in Ukraine that week, with Russian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday killing dozens of civilians in Kramatorsk and Pryluky.
Trump maintained that Zelensky had missed several opportunities to negotiate an end to the conflict. He claimed the war would not have started if he had been president when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump suggested that Ukraine needed a new leader who could make a deal with Russia.
Trump disclosed that he had advised Zelensky against targeting Russian refineries due to their importance to international energy markets. However, Zelensky proceeded with the attacks, prompting Trump to urge him to stop. The US president emphasized that there were plenty of alternative targets for Ukraine.
The diesel agreement between the US and Russia has drawn criticism from some US lawmakers, including Republican Representative Don Bacon. They argue that Washington should impose further sanctions on Russia rather than ease existing restrictions. Analysts believe the agreement is unlikely to bring sustained reductions in fuel prices.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, not Andy Burnham, spoke with Zelensky on Saturday and pledged to strengthen Britain's sanctions against Russia. The conversation highlighted continued international support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Key points
- Trump demands new Ukrainian president, citing Zelensky's rejection of peace deals.
- Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries threaten global diesel supplies, Trump claims.
- US-Russia diesel agreement draws criticism from lawmakers and analysts.
