President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to get a “new president” on Saturday, criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for continuing to target Russian oil refineries despite Trump’s requests to stop the attacks as oil prices have been increasing.
Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House after his administration announced a deal that would allow Russia to supply 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the United States and global markets. Trump said the arrangement was in response to Ukraine’s continued attacks on the refineries.
“I said to him: ‘Do what you want, don’t hit refineries,’” Trump said.
The president criticized Zelensky’s leadership during the war, which has continued for more than four years.
“You’ve lost 30% of your country and you’ve had over a million people killed. … I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump said. “Zelensky could have settled this war many times – many many times. And he chooses not to. Very difficult. It’s a war that should have never been started.”
The deal with Russia comes as diesel prices in the United States have climbed to over $6 per gallon. Rising fuel costs have placed pressure on farmers, adding to economic concerns ahead of the November midterm elections.
The announcement was made as US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss proposals aimed at ending the war. Zelensky criticized the arrangement between the US and Russia, calling it a “weak decision by strong partners.”
“I believe our team is simply being used as a smokescreen. And that is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other,” Zelensky said.
Congressional Democrats also condemned the move, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren, who described the deal as a betrayal of Ukraine.
“Enough is enough,” the senators said. “The President must end his war with Iran instead of funding Russia’s war machine.”
