Trump calls for new Ukrainian leader amid dispute over Russian refinery attacks
In short
US President Donald Trump said on October 10 that Ukraine needed a new president and demanded an end to attacks on Russian refineries, Japanese outlets reported. The remarks followed a US-Russian diesel-supply agreement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised as benefiting Russia.
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US President Donald Trump said Ukraine should have a new president who could reach an agreement, criticising President Volodymyr Zelensky over attacks on Russian refineries. Speaking to reporters at the White House on October 10, Trump said he had told Ukraine not to attack the refineries and demanded that the attacks stop. He claimed they were contributing to diesel shortages and creating problems for US farmers and ranchers. Japanese outlets reported the remarks as a further disagreement between the two leaders. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 ]
The comments followed Trump's October 9 announcement that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on supplying Russian diesel to the United States and other markets. The US administration eased the application of some sanctions on Russian fuel as it sought to restrain prices ahead of the November midterm elections, according to the reports. Zelensky criticised the agreement, arguing that Russia would use the resulting revenue to fund its war against Ukraine. TBS NEWS DIG reported that Democrats and some Republican lawmakers also criticised the arrangement on the grounds that it would provide Russia with money to continue the war. [ 3 , 5 , 7 , 12 ]
Yomiuri and Mainichi, citing the Financial Times, reported that US officials warned a Ukrainian delegation during October 9 talks that intelligence sharing would end unless attacks on the refineries stopped. The documents do not include an on-record US confirmation of that reported warning. TBS NEWS DIG said the Ukrainian delegation left talks in Miami a day earlier than planned, while Yomiuri and Mainichi said the delegation cancelled discussions scheduled for October 10. TBS also reported that Germany and Britain reaffirmed their intention to maintain strong sanctions against Russia after the diesel agreement. [ 5 , 6 , 12 ]
Why it matters
Trump linked refinery attacks to diesel shortages and problems for US farmers and ranchers. Zelensky argued that allowing Russian fuel sales would help finance Russia's war against Ukraine, according to the reports.
Key facts
- Trump made the remarks to reporters at the White House on October 10. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 ]
- He said Ukraine needed a new leader able to reach an agreement and called for refinery attacks to stop. [ 5 , 9 , 12 ]
- Trump announced on October 9 that he had agreed with Vladimir Putin on Russian diesel supplies and relief from some sanctions. [ 3 , 5 , 7 , 12 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- A reported US threat to halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine is not independently established in these documents. Yomiuri and Mainichi both attribute the report to the Financial Times rather than an on-record US statement.