Donald Trump said Ukraine needs “a new leader” just days after announcing a deal to purchase large quantities of Russian diesel. The deal, brokered between Trump and Vladimir Putin, has drawn strong condemnation from Ukraine’s president and Western allies amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not doing enough to end the conflict and blamed him for high diesel prices in the United States. “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 stated.
Ukrainian Leaders Denounce the Diesel Deal
Zelenskyy expressed outrage over the agreement announced by Trump, describing it as a “gift” to Russia. The Ukrainian president said that allowing Russia to sell diesel would provide Moscow with funds to continue its war efforts, stating that “any easing of sanctions” benefits Russia by enabling it to “kill more, wage war for longer.” Hours after the deal was announced, Ukraine suffered deadly Russian strikes that killed 20 people, including three children.
Ukrainian officials highlighted that the strikes were a direct response to the deal. Zelenskyy tweeted that Russia had shown its gratitude by launching glide bomb attacks on residential areas in Zaporizhzhia. The capital, Kyiv, also experienced large-scale power outages following the attacks.
Western Reactions and Diplomatic Responses
The US-Russia diesel deal disrupts years of Western sanctions aimed at pressuring Moscow financially. European and NATO allies have scrambled to respond. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned that the deal increases Russia’s war funding and insisted that the EU will not ease pressure on Russia. EU foreign ministers are scheduled to approve a substantial expansion of sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.
Major European governments, including Germany and Sweden, reaffirmed their commitment to sanctions and expressed regret over the US agreement. Germany emphasized unwavering support for Ukraine and working on further sanctions with European partners. Sweden’s prime minister described energy revenues from such deals as a critical source for Russia’s war of aggression.
Contrasting Views Between Leaders
The Russian government portrayed the call between Trump and Putin as “very substantive and friendly,” with both leaders reportedly reluctant to end the conversation. This contrasted with Zelenskyy’s accusations that Putin is playing games with Trump.
Within the conflict, Ukraine maintains it is ready to take de-escalatory steps if Russia reciprocates, amidst ongoing violence in occupied regions. Trump has also reportedly attempted to discourage Ukraine from targeting Russian refineries, a claim Zelenskyy rejects unless Russia ceases attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Reports indicate US envoys may have linked intelligence sharing to Ukraine halting strikes.
