Ukraine Needs New President Who Will Agree to End War — Trump

US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to get a new president who would agree to a deal to end the war with Russia, intensifying his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump made the remarks on Saturday, October 10, while speaking to reporters at the White House. He accused Zelenskyy of repeatedly missing opportunities to negotiate an end to the conflict.

“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 US president also criticised Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that the strikes were worsening fuel shortages and contributing to rising diesel prices affecting American farmers, ranchers and truckers.

Trump said he had previously urged Zelenskyy to avoid targeting Russian refineries, warning that the attacks could disrupt supplies at a time when fuel prices were already elevated.

His comments came a day after Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release large quantities of Russian diesel to the United States and global markets in an effort to ease energy costs.

The deal has drawn criticism from Kyiv, with Zelenskyy warning that easing restrictions on Russian fuel exports could provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain its war effort.

The Ukrainian president argued that Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities demonstrated the risks of reducing economic pressure on the Kremlin.

Trump, however, maintained that Zelenskyy had failed to take opportunities to end the war and suggested that a change in leadership could help facilitate an agreement.

The remarks come as US, Ukrainian and European officials continue diplomatic discussions aimed at finding a path towards ending the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia continues to demand concessions over Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv has insisted that any settlement must protect its sovereignty and security.

Trump’s latest comments are likely to add to tensions between Washington and Kyiv at a critical point in negotiations, particularly as the United States balances efforts to secure a peace agreement with its broader strategic interests and concerns over rising fuel prices.