U.S. President Donald Trump says Ukraine should replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of not doing enough to end the war with Russia and linking the criticism to a dispute over a U.S.-Russia diesel arrangement. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump also criticized Zelenskyy for actions involving strikes tied to Russia’s diesel infrastructure.
Several outlets report that Trump says Ukraine should “stop” striking Russian diesel refineries and argues Zelenskyy could have “settled” the war multiple times but did not. The remarks come as Trump’s administration lifts sanctions on Russian diesel, which has drawn pushback from Ukraine and Zelenskyy. Newsweek and other outlets also note timing around a Ukrainian strike on a major Russian oil hub soon after Trump reached a diesel deal with Russia, framing it as part of the broader disagreement.
Across coverage, outlets agree on Trump’s call for leadership change in Ukraine, his criticism of Zelenskyy’s negotiating approach, and his attribution of U.S. diesel price pressures to the situation. They differ mainly on how strongly they emphasize the diesel-price angle versus the war-negotiation argument and the specific strike timing.
