US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to elect a new president, accusing the country’s incumbent leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of repeatedly failing to seize opportunities to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Trump made the remarks at the White House on Saturday, arguing that Zelenskyy had turned down several opportunities to reach a peace agreement since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“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,” Trump said.
He added that he believed it was time for Ukraine to elect a new president.
The US president’s comments came amid growing disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and a recent agreement involving Russian diesel supplies to the United States.
Trump criticised Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, arguing that they could disrupt international fuel supplies and push up diesel prices, particularly for American farmers and ranchers.
He said he had urged Zelenskyy to avoid targeting Russian refineries because of their importance to global energy markets, even while Ukraine continued its military campaign against Russia.
The dispute intensified after Trump announced an arrangement allowing Russian diesel supplies to reach the US, alongside a temporary easing of sanctions affecting Russian fuel exports.
Zelenskyy had expressed concern that the arrangement could provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain its war against Ukraine.
The conflict began with Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, following years of tensions, including Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The war has caused extensive destruction, civilian casualties and mass displacement, while Russian forces continue to occupy parts of Ukrainian territory.
Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, a lasting peace agreement has yet to be reached.
Trump’s latest remarks add to the pressure on Zelenskyy’s government as disagreements over military strategy, energy supplies and the terms of a possible peace settlement continue to complicate relations between Washington and Kyiv.
