Trump Blames Zelenskyy for US Diesel Prices, Suggests Ukraine Elect New President

On October 10, U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a White House interview that it is time for Ukraine to elect a new president, blaming current leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy for soaring U.S. diesel prices and failing to end the war.

Trump Blames Zelenskyy for Diesel Prices and Urges New Leadership

Trump spoke to media members at the White House before departing for a campaign event in Tennessee, asserting that Zelenskyy has not done enough to secure a peace deal with Russia. “I suggest they change a new leader who can reach an agreement, because he could have reached many agreements, but for some reason, he never did,” Trump stated. The U.S. president also accused Zelenskyy of trying to create global trouble by continuing to authorize strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump claimed that the ongoing conflict, now over four and a half years old, began due to incompetence, noting that Ukraine has lost roughly 30 percent of its territory and over two million people have been killed.

Hours prior to Trump’s remarks, Zelenskyy strongly criticized a U.S.–Russia agreement announced by the White House to purchase millions of tons of Russian diesel. In a telephone interview with Axios, Zelenskyy characterized the unilateral lifting of sanctions as a birthday gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 74 earlier in the week, calling the move neither fair nor honest.

Miami Negotiations Interrupted by Sudden Energy Agreement

The diplomatic friction intensified while Ukrainian negotiators were meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami to discuss an end to the war. According to three sources cited by the Financial Times, the Ukrainian delegation was caught completely off guard when news of the diesel deal broke. During the talks, the U.S. representatives warned that Washington might cut off critical intelligence sharing if Kyiv did not halt strikes against Russian oil refineries.

A senior Ukrainian official said that the sudden policy shift completely destroyed trust between the partners. Zelenskyy pointed out that while his team traveled to Florida in good faith to discuss diplomatic breakthroughs, the U.S. administration used the meetings as a smokescreen while finalizing an energy arrangement with Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian state media and officials confirmed details of a 90-minute phone call between Putin and Trump on October 9, during which the leaders discussed resolving the crisis and expanding trade.

Washington Pursues Short-Term Relief While Europe Maintains Sanctions

The Trump administration’s decision to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports through April 7, 2027, is directly tied to mounting domestic economic pressures ahead of the November midterm elections. U.S. retail diesel prices surged significantly in September, driven by supply chain constraints and broader Middle East tensions that restricted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz. To counter inflationary spikes affecting American farmers and freight operators, Washington arranged for an initial delivery of 300,000 tons of Russian diesel in October, followed by 500,000 tons in November and an additional million tons shortly thereafter.

European leaders immediately distanced themselves from the White House policy shift. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed regret over the diesel pact, emphasizing that energy revenues remain central to funding Russia’s military operations. German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to maintaining strict sanctions, while European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas warned that easing pressure on Moscow provides extra revenue for the conflict, noting that the EU is preparing its 1600-item sanctions package.

In Kyiv, the human cost of the ongoing hostilities highlighted the deepening rift. Following a series of Russian airstrikes, Ukrainian emergency services reported that glide bombs struck a residential building in Zaporizhzhia, killing 20 people, including three children, and injuring at least 18 others. Zelenskyy posted on X that Moscow clearly interpreted the relaxation of energy sanctions as a green light to intensify attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

More on this story: Trump Says It Is Time For Ukraine To Get New President After Zelensky Criticizes Russia Diesel Deal · Trump and Putin Strike Diesel Deal; Zelenskyy Condemns Sanctions Waiver