Trump said Saturday that Ukraine should "get a new president" after Volodymyr Zelensky criticized a US deal with Russia to suspend sanctions on diesel exports.
Trump confirmed Friday that an agreement had been reached with Moscow to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7. The deal aims to increase diesel supplies to the US market and lower fuel prices domestically.
Zelensky opposed the agreement, arguing the relaxation of penalties would give Moscow new revenue to continue its war. He said the deal would allow Russia to "keep fighting, to keep dropping bombs on cities" following strikes on Zaporizhzhia that killed civilians.
Speaking to media as he left the White House, Trump said Zelensky "wants to make problems for the world" by authorizing attacks on Russian refineries. Trump stated the Ukrainian president "could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does." He told Zelensky to "get a new leader who can make a deal" and said the president should stop attacks on refineries because "that's a world problem that's caused."
Trump said the US had told Ukraine it could "do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries."
Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified strikes on energy facilities, transport infrastructure and logistics hubs. Ukraine has targeted Russian refineries as part of its war strategy.
The EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas echoed Zelensky's criticism Saturday, saying suspending sanctions "provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war." She stated "Europe won't" ease pressure on Russia and said European foreign ministers intended to approve the largest sanctions package against Russia since its full-scale invasion began in February.
Trump has spent months addressing rising fuel prices, particularly diesel, which have contributed to inflation and damaged his political standing with voters. The Iran conflict that began in February sent petrol and diesel costs skyrocketing. The diesel deal represents his latest effort to lower fuel prices ahead of midterm elections.