Trump urges Zelensky replacement as diesel row rages

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump called on Saturday for Ukraine to "get a new leader" after Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Washington's easing of Russian diesel sanctions, as the US president faces fuel price pressure weeks before midterm elections.

Trump, whose Republicans face dim prospects in next month's vote partly because of soaring energy costs, defended a deal allowing more Russian diesel onto global markets after saying Vladimir Putin wanted "strongly" to reach a settlement in Ukraine.

Trump accused the Ukrainian president of blocking a deal with Moscow and ignoring instructions to not strike Russian refineries, while Kyiv and its European allies warned that easing pressure on Moscow would help fund the Kremlin's war.

The row unfolded as the latest Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 21 people, including children.

Trump announced Friday that he had spoken to Putin and agreed for Russia to release large amounts of diesel into world markets.

Ukraine and its European allies expressed dismay, with Zelensky telling reporters Friday it was a "weak decision."

Asked about the criticism, Trump said Zelensky had disobeyed his orders not to strike Russian refineries and that the attacks risked worsening fuel shortages linked to the United States-Israeli war on Iran.

"He better damn well stop," Trump said.

"I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal, because he could have made many deals that, for some reason, he never does," Trump said.

Trump later said Putin was interested in ending the war.

"Russia would like to make a deal... but for whatever reason, Zelensky does not want to make a deal," he told reporters.

"President Putin would like to see a settlement, strongly."

The US president also criticized Zelensky for not holding an election since Russia's invasion in 2022.

"I think he should have an election and he could have settled this thing many times," Trump said.

Allies back Kyiv

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said lifting sanctions on Russian diesel would only help sustain Russia's war effort.

"This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't," she wrote online.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reiterated his "complete solidarity" with Zelensky in a call.

Downing Street said Burnham also pledged that Britain would "strengthen its sanctions on Russia."

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga also backed his president. "He has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide," he said in a post on X.

On Saturday, a Russian glide bomb attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia killed 20 people, including three children, according to Ukraine's state rescue service.