Trump Says Ukraine Needs New President, Pressuring Zelenskiy’s Removal

President Donald Trump publicly raised the possibility of replacing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as a dispute over a US-Russia agreement to increase Russian diesel supplies escalated into a clash over Ukraine’s leadership.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on October 10, Trump said Ukraine needs a new president. He also argued that Zelenskiy had several chances to end the war but missed them.

Ukraine and Russia reacted differently. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X that the right to choose the country’s leader belongs to the Ukrainian people. He added that Zelenskiy is leading the war to defend independence and freedom with public support, and that assistance from allied countries is continuing.

By contrast, Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, described Trump’s remarks as “symbolic and historic.” In his view, Trump had joined the argument that Ukraine needs a leader who puts peace first.

The exchange came after Trump said in a Truth Social post on October 9 that he had reached an agreement with Putin to expand Russian diesel fuel supplies. Under the agreement, Russia would immediately ship more than 300,000 tons to the US and other global markets, then add further volumes for a total of 4.8 million tons. Russia’s government said the following day that it would partially lift export restrictions and begin supplying volumes tied to overseas contracts.

The US said it had partially eased sanctions on Russian fuel to help stabilize diesel prices. Zelenskiy, however, criticized the move as “an investment in a war that should be ended.” He objected to allowing Russian fuel exports at a time when pressure on Moscow should be increasing.

Separately, Russia’s Tass news agency, citing a source, reported that Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow within the next two weeks. The two previously met Ukrainian and European officials to discuss proposals for ending the war.