Diesel Deal with Putin

“Time for Someone New”: Trump Calls for Zelenskyy’s Replacement

The relationship between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains tense. Now, the U.S. president is openly calling for a new Ukrainian head of state. © euro(Bild: AFP/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI)

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to get rid of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s head of state. In the dispute over a diesel deal with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, he accuses the Ukrainian president of failing to end the war despite numerous opportunities to do so. At the same time, Trump holds Zelenskyy partly responsible for the diesel shortage and calls for an end to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump said Saturday in Washington. Zelenskyy has had many opportunities to end the war but chose not to, the U.S. president claimed.

The Ukrainians should find a leader who can reach an agreement to end the war.

Trump Calls for an End to Attacks on Refineries
The latest exchange of barbs followed Zelenskyy’s sharp criticism of the diesel deal between Washington and Moscow. After a conversation with Putin, Trump had announced an agreement on the delivery of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of diesel from Russia. In return, the U.S. is temporarily suspending its sanctions against Russian diesel exports.

Trump accused Zelenskyy of contributing to the diesel shortage through Ukrainian attacks on the Russian energy sector. “He wants to cause problems for our farmers and ranchers with diesel fuel, because Russia supplies a large portion of the world’s diesel fuel,” the U.S. president claimed. Regarding the attacks on Russian refineries, he also said that Zelenskyy should “damn well stop it.”

Zelenskyy Criticizes Easing of Sanctions
The Ukrainian president had sharply criticized the easing of U.S. sanctions in light of the Russian attacks. “Russia is thanking us for lifting sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

According to the Ukrainian Civil Defense, at least 17 people, including three minors, were killed in Russian attacks in southeastern Ukraine overnight on Saturday. Another 18 people were injured. Kyiv was also attacked on Saturday with drones and ballistic missiles. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, six people were injured. In addition, damage to an energy facility led to problems with the water supply and power outages.

Presidential Election Currently Out of the Question
Trump’s accusation that Zelenskyy failed to take advantage of potential opportunities to end the war contradicts the diplomatic positions taken so far by the warring parties. Zelenskyy has repeatedly declared his willingness to engage in direct talks with Putin but has categorically rejected invitations to Moscow. Putin, for his part, has repeatedly rejected offers of an unconditional ceasefire. Other diplomatic initiatives have also so far failed to yield results.

Furthermore, an immediate change in Ukraine’s leadership is not possible. According to the Ukrainian constitution, elections are prohibited during wartime.

Diesel Prices Put Pressure on Trump
The diesel dispute also has a domestic political dimension for Trump. According to the news agency report, diesel prices in the U.S. have risen by 67 percent as a result of the war with Iran that began in late February. Ahead of the congressional elections on November 3, public discontent is therefore growing. Trump’s Republicans fear losing their majority in Congress.

On Friday, Trump announced that he would purchase diesel from Russia despite existing sanctions. The temporary easing of sanctions and his demand for an end to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries are thus also linked to the attempt to secure the diesel supply.