Trump says Ukraine needs a new president amid dispute over refinery attacks

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that it was time for Ukraine to get a new president, while demanding that Volodymyr Zelensky stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. The New York Post reported that Trump made the comments to journalists outside the White House before leaving for a rally in Tennessee. Bloomberg and an AP alert carried by ABC News also reported his suggestion that Ukraine needed a new leader. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

Trump said he had told Zelensky not to hit refineries and accused him of wanting to create problems for the world, according to the Post. He also accused Zelensky of having had repeated opportunities to settle the war but choosing not to do so. ABC News reported that Trump blamed the Ukrainian president for high diesel prices, while Bloomberg linked the dispute to securing more US diesel supplies ahead of the midterm elections. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The Post reported that the administration had announced an arrangement for Russia to supply 300,000 metric tons of diesel to US and global energy markets. Trump described it as a response to Ukraine's continued attacks on Russian refineries, the newspaper said. The reports give different timing for the announcement: the Post placed it hours before Saturday's remarks, while the earlier AP report carried by ABC News said Trump announced a deal on Friday. [ 2 , 4 ]

Zelensky warned that easing pressure on Russia would enable it to keep fighting and bombing cities, according to the AP report. He said additional export earnings would help pay for weapons components and upgrades to drones. The Post reported that average US diesel prices had topped $6 per gallon, raising costs for farmers and consumers, and that some Republicans had criticised the diesel arrangement. [ 2 , 4 ]