TL;DR
Get movie nights delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
President Donald Trump said on October 10 that Ukraine should get a new president who could make a deal, criticizing Volodymyr Zelensky over his approach to negotiations and strikes on fuel infrastructure. His remarks came a day after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Russian diesel supplies, and after the U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license allowing those sales through April 7, 2027.
U.S. President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to choose a new president on October 10, saying the country needs a leader who can “make a deal” and criticizing President Volodymyr Zelensky over negotiations and attacks on fuel infrastructure. The comments followed a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and a U.S. move to temporarily permit Russian diesel fuel sales to global markets.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Ukraine should find a new leader because Zelensky had been able to make agreements but, in Trump’s view, had not done so. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new President,” he said. The remarks amounted to a direct public call for a change in Ukraine’s leadership; Trump did not describe a process for bringing that about.
Trump also discussed strikes on fuel-related targets. He said the United States had told Zelensky he could act against Russia, while warning him not to strike oil refineries because the consequences could affect the wider world. Trump accused Zelensky of hitting diesel fuel and said, “He better damn well stop.” The report does not independently establish the details of the alleged strike or provide a Ukrainian response to that specific accusation.
The comments came one day after Trump and Putin spoke by phone and reached an agreement concerning Russian diesel supplies to U.S. and global markets, according to Meduza’s report. The U.S. Treasury Department then issued a temporary license allowing Russian diesel fuel to reach the global market despite U.S. sanctions. The authorization is set to remain in effect until April 7, 2027.
A Public Challenge to Zelensky
Trump publicly called for Ukraine to replace its leader while Washington was engaging Moscow over energy supplies and the war. Ukraine depends on U.S. support, but the report does not establish that Trump’s remarks represent formal U.S. policy or identify any concrete step Washington will take to pursue a change in leadership.
The diesel arrangement is another point of disagreement between Washington and Kyiv. Ukraine criticized the deal, while the U.S. license creates a temporary route for Russian fuel sales despite sanctions. Zelensky described Russia’s permission to sell oil products as an investment in the war. The report does not detail the deal’s expected volume, financial value or broader effects.
Ukrainian presidential election campaign signs
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Diesel Deal Behind the Remarks
The immediate backdrop is a sequence of events reported over two days: Trump and Putin spoke by phone, the U.S. announced a temporary license for Russian diesel sales, and Trump then criticized Zelensky and urged Ukraine to find a new president. The sequence links the leadership call to Trump’s stated objections about negotiations and strikes, while also placing it amid a policy decision opposed by Ukraine.
Meduza reported that Zelensky criticized the diesel agreement, saying Russia’s decision to allow oil product sales “is an investment in the war.” That statement reflects Kyiv’s objection to revenue-generating sales by Moscow. The report does not include the text of the U.S.-Russia agreement, details of the phone call, or a fuller explanation of the Treasury license’s conditions. Those limits make it difficult to assess how the arrangement will operate beyond its stated end date.
Ukrainian leadership political posters
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Policy and Strike Details Remain Open
The report does not say whether Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian president will be followed by any formal U.S. demand, policy change or action. It also does not describe how Ukraine’s political institutions or citizens might respond. Trump’s remarks are confirmed as statements he made, but their status as a broader administration position is not established by the available information.
Details of the alleged strike on diesel-related infrastructure, including its location, timing and target, are not provided in the report. The full terms and expected effects of the Treasury license are also unclear, as are the specifics of the Trump-Putin understanding. The stated authorization expires April 7, 2027, but the source does not say whether it could be extended or changed before then.
fuel infrastructure security equipment
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Watch for Kyiv and U.S. Responses
The next developments to watch are responses from Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials to Trump’s demand, and any clarification from the White House on whether the statement signals an official policy. Further information from the Treasury could clarify the license’s scope, restrictions and operation through April 7, 2027. The report does not identify a scheduled follow-up meeting or a new negotiation milestone.
Any additional details about the reported strikes or the terms of the diesel arrangement could also shape the dispute. Until those are made public, the confirmed development is Trump’s call for Ukraine to replace Zelensky, alongside the temporary U.S. authorization for Russian diesel sales—not an announced change in Ukraine’s leadership.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What did Trump say about Zelensky?
Trump said Ukraine should find a new president who could make a deal, adding, “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new President.”
Why did Trump criticize Zelensky?
Trump said Zelensky had not made deals and accused him of striking diesel fuel after the United States warned against attacks on oil refineries. The report does not provide independent details about the alleged strike.
What was the U.S.-Russia diesel arrangement?
After a phone call between Trump and Putin, the U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license allowing Russian diesel fuel to reach global markets despite U.S. sanctions. The license is reported to run until April 7, 2027.
How did Ukraine respond to the diesel deal?
Ukraine criticized the arrangement. Zelensky said Russia’s decision to allow oil product sales “is an investment in the war.”
Has Ukraine agreed to replace Zelensky?
The report does not say that Ukraine has agreed to replace Zelensky or that any leadership change is planned. Trump’s remarks are a public call, not confirmation of a change in Ukraine’s leadership.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
