Trump called on Ukraine to replace Zelensky on Saturday after the Ukrainian president condemned a US deal to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Trump said Zelensky "wants to make problems for the world" by continuing to authorise attacks on Russian refineries and told the media he should "get a new leader who can make a deal".
Zelensky warned that releasing millions of tonnes of Russian diesel into the US market would provide Moscow with revenue to fund its war effort. He said the sanctions suspension, confirmed by Trump on Friday and set to last until April 7, signals to Russia "they can keep fighting, to keep dropping bombs on cities" following recent strikes on Zaporizhzhia.
Trump justified the agreement by saying the refineries represent "a world problem". He told Zelensky to stop authorising attacks on them, saying "you can do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries" and that the Ukrainian leader "could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does".
Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified strikes on energy and transport infrastructure and major logistics hubs.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas backed Zelensky's position on Saturday, stating the sanctions suspension "provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war" and describing the timing as misguided. She said European foreign ministers plan to approve the largest sanctions package against Russia since its full-scale invasion began in February, a move scheduled for Monday.
Trump has pursued the diesel deal as part of a broader effort to lower US fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections. The cost of diesel and petrol has risen sharply since February, damaging his standing with American voters who face both higher pump prices and broader inflation.