“Ukraine needs a new president,” Trump says, escalating his clash with Zelensky over refinery strikes and the Russian diesel deal

U.S. President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to choose a new leader, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of repeatedly refusing chances to reach a peace deal with Russia. “For some reason, Zelensky never makes a deal,” Trump said.

Trump also blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for worsening diesel pressures on American farmers. He said the U.S. had told Zelensky, “Do whatever you want, but don’t hit the diesel fuel,” and criticized him for continuing to target fuel facilities.

Trump said his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin would see Russia supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly afterward. The deal came as U.S.-mediated efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war continue.

Separately, Trump said he was considering whether the United States might join Saudi military action against the Houthis following attacks on Riyadh’s airport. Asked whether the attack could change his pledge not to strike Iran before the U.S. midterm elections, he replied: “We’ll look at that.”

Kyiv has defended strikes on Russian energy infrastructure as a way to limit Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain the war. Zelensky has also warned that revenue from Russian petroleum exports could help fund the fighting.