President Donald Trump said it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president”, blaming Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s strikes on Russian refineries for high diesel prices. European leaders rushed to back Zelenskyy. A day later Trump announced an “energy ceasefire”, which Ukraine says Russia immediately broke.
US President Donald Trump called on Ukraine on Saturday, October 10, to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Al Jazeera reported, citing Reuters.
What Trump Said
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House, saying Zelenskyy had hurt global diesel supplies with attacks on Russian refineries.
“I said to him, ‘Do what you want. Don’t hit refineries,’” Trump said. “And he went out and he hit. He better damn well stop.”
Why Diesel Matters to Washington
Fuel prices have risen steeply since the US-Israel war on Iran began. Al Jazeera described the rise as a political liability for the Republican Party ahead of next month’s midterm elections, in which Democrats could win one or both houses of Congress.
On Friday Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian fuel. Al Jazeera called it a reversal of years of US pressure on Russia. A Republican, Representative Don Bacon, joined critics of the deal, saying Congress’s recently passed sanctions should be applied, not rolled back.
Kyiv’s Answer
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Zelenskyy “has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide”.
Zelenskyy said the diesel deal had emboldened Moscow. He linked it to a Russian glide-bomb attack on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, saying: “Today, Russia said thank you for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports.” Reports put the death toll between 16 and 20.
Europe Responds
- Poland: Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was “absolutely convinced” nobody could break Ukraine and its president
- Germany: Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reaffirmed support and called for more pressure on Moscow
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke to Zelenskyy and pledged to strengthen sanctions; Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Ukrainians alone should decide who leads them
An ‘Energy Ceasefire’
On Sunday Trump posted that “there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed.” Axios reported that Zelenskyy initially said it was “news to him”.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would back such a truce if Moscow complied, and that Russian drones and glide bombs were still hitting Ukraine, including an attack on a power plant in Kharkiv. The Kremlin had not responded.
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine would stop attacking Russian refineries if Russia stopped striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and that he would organise elections if Putin agreed to a 60-day full ceasefire.
Image: Donald Trump meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, December 2025 (file photo). Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
