Trump calls for new Ukrainian leader, blames Zelenskyy for diesel prices

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should elect a new president, arguing that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not done enough to end the war with Russia. Speaking to journalists at the White House, Trump stated: "I suggest they get a new leader that can make a deal because there could have been many deals made and for some reason he never does it."

Trump blamed Zelenskyy for high diesel prices in the United States, citing Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. He claimed Zelenskyy had ignored his repeated requests to cease such strikes. Trump also asserted that the war would never have begun had he been U.S. president in 2022, attributing its start to "incompetence." He cited casualties and territorial losses, stating Zelenskyy had "lost 30% of your country" with over a million people displaced and over 2 million dead across both sides. Independent estimates indicate roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory is under Russian control; British defence officials have estimated around 500,000 Russian soldiers have died.

Trump made these comments after announcing a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to purchase Russian diesel in an effort to address fuel prices ahead of U.S. midterm elections. He has urged Zelenskyy for weeks to halt Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Trump also blamed Zelenskyy rather than the U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran—which began in February—for global energy price increases.

In response, Zelenskyy posted on X: "Today Russia expressed its gratitude for lifting sanctions on diesel exports by launching five glider bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia." The Ukrainian president characterized Russia's interpretation of reduced pressure as permission to continue fighting and bombing cities. At least 20 people were killed in Saturday's Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia, including three minors, with 18 more injured, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service. Over 60 people have died in Russian bombardments in recent days as the two nations wage a prolonged air campaign while ground forces remain largely stalled more than four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion began.

An Associated Press poll conducted last month and published October 1 found Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of Iran and blame him for rising prices. Analysts link recent global fuel price increases to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. strikes, which has disrupted oil exports from Persian Gulf nations, as well as sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil.