On October 10, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Ukrainians to elect a new president, criticizing Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what he sees as a failure to reach a deal ending the war with Russia. Trump also demanded Kyiv halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. His remarks came a day after Washington and Moscow announced an agreement to supply Russian diesel to the U.S. and global markets.
Trump Wants New Leadership in Ukraine
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Ukraine needs a leader capable of negotiating with Russia. He accused Zelenskyy of missing several opportunities to end the war, in his view.
The American president also insisted the conflict might not have begun if he had been in office at the time of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
These are Trump’s political opinions. Decisions about Ukraine’s presidency are determined by Ukrainian voters, according to the country’s constitution and electoral rules. The U.S. president’s statement does not itself mean a change in Ukraine’s leadership is imminent.
Tensions Rise Following U.S.-Russia Diesel Deal
Trump’s comments followed his announcement of an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the delivery of diesel fuel. According to Trump, Russia is to deliver more than 300,000 tons of fuel immediately, with additional shipments to follow in the coming months.
Trump presents the deal as a move to boost fuel supply and ease price pressures in the U.S. market. He links surging diesel costs to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.
Zelenskyy has criticized the agreement, arguing that revenue from Russian energy exports only strengthens Moscow’s war effort. The Ukrainian president described the deal as a measure that, in his opinion, does not help achieve peace.
Washington Presses Kyiv to Halt Attacks on Russian Refineries
Trump has repeatedly urged Kyiv to scale back attacks on Russian oil-processing facilities, claiming such operations disrupt fuel markets and may contribute to price increases.
Ukraine, on the other hand, considers Russian energy infrastructure a crucial part of the military and economic system supporting the invasion, and defends its strikes on refineries as part of its defense strategy.
Tensions extend to U.S. military aid. According to the Financial Times, American officials told Ukrainian negotiators during talks in Miami that ongoing attacks on Russian refineries could threaten intelligence sharing.
For more on previous disputes between Washington and Kyiv, see the article Trump Urges Zelenskyy to Stop Attacks on Russian Refineries.
Talks to End the War Continue
The U.S. president’s comments come as a Ukrainian delegation held talks in Miami with representatives of the United States and European countries to discuss potential steps toward ending the war.
No concrete peace agreement has yet been announced. Key sticking points remain the status of occupied Ukrainian territories, security guarantees for Kyiv, and terms of a possible ceasefire.
For more on diplomatic contacts between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv, see the article on Trump’s envoys meeting Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss renewing peace talks.
Zelenskyy Rejects Concessions That Might Strengthen Russia
Zelenskyy has consistently insisted that ending the war must involve security guarantees and cannot lead to further threats to Ukraine. Kyiv argues that Russia should face consequences for its invasion.
Trump’s latest statement deepens the dispute over how the war should end and what compromises should be made. It remains unclear whether his public call for Zelenskyy’s replacement will impact ongoing negotiations.
For more on the course of the conflict and Ukrainian strategy against Russian military and energy targets, see the article on Zelenskyy announcing further strikes on Russian refineries in response to Russian tactics.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
