Trump calls for replacing Zelensky and condemns strikes on Russian oil refineries

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for continuing strikes on Russian oil refineries and called for him to be replaced.

Trump made the remarks while speaking with journalists.

According to the U.S. president, Washington had directly warned Kyiv that attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure were unacceptable.

“Zelensky could have settled this conflict many times, but chose not to. We told him: ‘Do whatever you want with Russia, just don’t hit the oil refineries, because that creates a world problem.’ And he wants to create problems for the whole world. Because of him, our farmers and ranchers could suffer — they need diesel fuel, and Russia supplies a significant portion of it to the world market,” Trump said.

In addition to criticizing the Ukrainian leader, Trump questioned his ability to end the conflict and called for a change of leadership in the country.

“Zelensky could have ended this war many, many times. But he doesn’t. Ukraine needs to get a new leader who can make a deal. For some reason, Zelensky never makes a deal,” the U.S. president said.

Against the backdrop of these statements, Western media report that the U.S. has already threatened to cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine if Kyiv continues to attack Russian oil refineries.

The day before, Zelensky condemned Trump’s decision to ease sanctions against Russia. Trump, for his part, responded restrainedly to the Ukrainian president’s remarks calling him “weak” for softening sanctions against Russia. Also the previous day, Trump and Putin concluded what has been called the diesel deal.