Trump Calls For New Ukrainian Leadership Amid Clash With Zelensky Over US-Russia Diesel Agreement

On Saturday, October 10, US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying Ukraine ought to change its leadership.

The two men were at odds over a new energy arrangement between Washington and Moscow.

Trump spoke with reporters at the White House, where he voiced irritation with Zelensky after Ukrainian drones hit several Russian oil refineries, attacks the US had asked Kyiv to hold off on.

“You know what I suggest? I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does,” Trump said.

The row comes a day after Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to send Russian diesel to global energy markets.

Trump framed the move as a way to ease fuel costs at home before the upcoming US midterm elections.

US officials said the steady Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries helped push Trump to negotiate with Moscow directly.

Zelensky sharply criticized the deal, calling it a blow to peace efforts that effectively provides financing for Russia’s war.

“Investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged,” Zelensky said, describing the move as “a weak decision of strong partners.”

According to the terms Trump shared on social media, Putin agreed in a phone call to deliver more than 300,000 tons of diesel to global markets right away, followed by another 500,000 tons in November.

Related: Why Trump Kicked Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Out Of The White House

Together, the 800,000 tons come to roughly six million barrels, which is about a day and a half of total US diesel consumption, based on US Energy Information Administration figures.

Trump added that more millions of tons of Russian diesel could follow, depending on the condition of Russia’s refineries.

Asked by reporters whether loosening limits on Russian energy exports could prolong the war, Trump laid the blame for the ongoing fighting on Ukraine’s government.

“Zelensky could’ve settled this war many times … and he chooses not to,” Trump remarked, adding that the Ukrainian leader “wants to make problems for the world.”

Former US officials and market analysts doubted the deal would make much difference, noting that Russian diesel output has been badly strained by recent Ukrainian strikes.

Kyiv said it hit five Russian refineries in the week before the announcement.

Analysts also said the volumes involved would barely move overall global supply.

“We are talking perhaps a 5%-6% increase in supply between now and year end,” said Dan Pickering, founder and chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners.

“Bottom line, this is helpful but not a needle mover for global diesel markets.

“Side note, there is a reason Trump talked about volumes in tons instead of barrels. The tons number looks bigger to a general observer.

“This is more politics than a game changer.”

Russia had imposed a formal ban on diesel exports in early July after Ukrainian drone attacks caused widespread domestic fuel shortages.

The ban took about 800,000 barrels per day out of global supply.

After the talks between the two leaders, Kremlin summaries confirmed that Putin was prepared to restart energy shipments to international markets.

“I am confident that this will have a positive impact on the entire global economy,” Putin stated according to the official Kremlin summary.