US President Donald Trump has openly called for Ukraine to change its leader. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, October 10, Trump said, "I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," and suggested Kyiv "get a new leader who can make a deal." The remarks came barely a day after he announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to bring Russian diesel to the US market, a move that has angered Ukraine and its European partners.
It is the sharpest public break between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy since their televised Oval Office clash in February 2025, and it lands at a tense moment for the war and for global fuel prices.
What Trump said
Trump's anger centred on Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. He said those attacks were hurting world diesel supply and creating "problems for our farmers, our ranchers with diesel fuel." He said he had told Zelenskyy, "Don't hit refineries. There's plenty of targets," and added that Zelenskyy "better damn well stop."
Trump also claimed Zelenskyy could have reached a deal with Russia many times but chose not to. A US official told Axios that Trump went ahead with the diesel deal after Kyiv ignored around six American requests to stop hitting Russian refineries.
The diesel deal behind the row
On Friday, October 9, Trump announced an arrangement with Russia that lifts sanctions so Russian diesel can be exported to the US and the wider market. The aim is to bring down fuel prices, which have climbed sharply after the US-Israel war with Iran and have become a political headache for Republicans ahead of next month's midterm elections.
The deal cuts against the tough line Washington had taken on Russian energy. Only last month Trump signed a sweeping sanctions law aimed at Moscow's oil and gas earnings. Even some Republicans are uneasy: Congressman Don Bacon said the newly passed sanctions should be enforced, not rolled back.
How Zelenskyy responded
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had been surprised, as the deal was made without its knowledge. He told Axios the agreement was "not fair and not honest," called it a "sign of weakness" and described it as a "birthday gift" to Putin, whose birthday was earlier in the week.
Linking the deal to a Russian strike the same day, he said Moscow had effectively "said thank you for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports." He argued that every extra billion dollars Russia earns pays for more drones, missiles and recruits, and that "different signals are needed." Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Zelenskyy had the backing of Ukrainians and that choosing a leader was their decision alone.
Deadly week on the ground
The diplomatic fight comes during one of the bloodiest stretches of the war for civilians. A Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia on Saturday killed 20 people, including three children, according to reports. Strikes on Wednesday and Thursday had already killed nearly 80 civilians, including about 30 in Kramatorsk and 22 in Pryluky. Zelenskyy has warned of more missile attacks in the coming days.
Key facts at a glance
| Trump's remarks | Saturday, October 10, 2026, White House |
| Diesel deal announced | Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| What the deal does | Eases sanctions so Russian diesel can be exported to the US and global market |
| Trump's complaint | Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries |
| Zelenskyy's verdict | "Not fair and not honest", a "gift" to Putin |
| Civilian toll this week | Nearly 100 killed in major Russian strikes (reported) |
Europe's reaction
Ukraine's European allies have voiced dismay and said they remain committed to sanctions. Downing Street said Britain would tighten its own measures against Russia after the Prime Minister spoke with Zelenskyy. The EU, which is still buying record volumes of Russian liquefied natural gas, is under growing pressure to show it is not easing up. Zelenskyy has also been speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron about air defence and with Finland's Alexander Stubb.
All of this is happening while US, European and Ukrainian negotiators hold talks in Miami on a joint proposal to end the war. Trump's comments make that process more awkward, since the man he wants replaced is the one leading Ukraine's side.
Why it matters for India
India watches US-Russia energy moves closely. New Delhi has faced pressure from Washington over its own purchases of Russian oil, so a US decision to buy Russian diesel is likely to be noticed in Indian policy circles. Fuel prices are another link: any easing of the global diesel squeeze would help import-dependent economies like India, while a widening of the war would push the other way.
What happens next
The key questions now are whether Ukraine scales back strikes on Russian refineries, how Congress handles the clash between the new sanctions law and the diesel deal, and whether the Miami talks survive this public split. Kyiv has made clear it will not change leaders on Washington's say-so.
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