US President Donald Trump has said he thinks "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president" after Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a U.S. diesel deal with Russia.
Zelensky warned that a new agreement to release millions of tonnes of Russian diesel into the United States would give Moscow a source of funds to sustain the war.
Speaking to the media as he left the White House on Saturday, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of "making problems" for the world by continuing to authorise attacks on Russian refineries.
"He'd better damn well stop," Trump said, adding that Ukraine should "get a new leader who can make a deal."
Russia and Ukraine have escalated strikes on key energy and transport infrastructure in recent weeks.
Trump confirmed on Friday that sanctions on Russian diesel exports would be lifted until 7 April, a move he said would lower fuel costs ahead of the U.S. mid‑term elections.
Zelensky criticised the policy, arguing it would give Moscow additional revenue to purchase new weapons and continue bombing cities, following new strikes on Zaporizhzhia.
European ministers echoed the criticism, with foreign‑policy chief Kaja Kallas saying that easing sanctions would enable Russia to wage war, and that Europe was not ready to do so.
The debate comes as U.S. petrol and diesel prices have surged, eroding public support for Trump amid broad inflationary pressures.
