Trump, after deal with Putin, floats replacing Zelensky as criticism mounts

[The Financial News] With next month’s midterm elections approaching, U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a wave of criticism at home and abroad after joining forces with Russia to bring down domestic diesel prices. Trump said Ukraine needs a “new president,” targeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for criticizing the agreement, and is reportedly considering even ending intelligence support.
According to the BBC and other British media outlets, Trump attacked Zelenskyy while speaking with reporters at the White House on the 10th (local time). He said, “Zelenskyy could have ended this war several times, but chose not to.” He went on to claim, “We told Zelenskyy, ‘Do whatever you want regarding Russia, but don’t attack Russian refineries, because that causes problems around the world.’” Trump stressed, “But he wants to cause problems for the world, and he wants to cause problems for our farmers and ranchers.”
With the November midterm elections approaching, Trump has recently been stepping up efforts to secure diesel supplies as a spike in U.S. diesel prices has shaken public confidence. He has claimed that the Iran war he started has nothing to do with diesel prices, and that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries drove prices up. On the 9th, Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social that he was temporarily lifting economic sanctions on Russia. He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to supply diesel to the U.S. and international markets. That same day, Zelenskyy criticized the deal in an interview with the U.S. outlet Axios, saying it was “like a birthday present to Putin.”
At the White House on the 10th, Trump said, “Do you know what I’m proposing to Ukraine? Get a new leader who can reach an [end-of-war] agreement.” He claimed, “Ukraine has lost 30% of its territory, and more than one million people have lost their lives. That war should never have started, and I think it’s time for Ukraine to have a new president.”
According to the British Financial Times (FT) that same day, a U.S. delegation including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff demanded that Ukraine stop attacking Russian refineries during a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Miami, U.S., on the 9th. The U.S. side warned that it would stop sharing key intelligence if the attacks on refinery facilities did not stop.
On the day of Trump’s remarks, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, “Zelenskyy has the support of the Ukrainian people.” He added, “The Ukrainian people have the right to decide.”
Europe reaffirmed its solidarity with Ukraine. On the 10th, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stressed, “Now is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe will not do so.” That same day, the British prime minister’s office said Prime Minister Andy Burnham had spoken with Zelenskyy and “made clear that the U.K. will continue to tighten sanctions on Russia.” The German government also said in a spokesperson’s statement, “We are maintaining sanctions on Russia and working with our European partners on new sanctions.”
Opposition was voiced across party lines in the United States. On the 9th, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, wrote on X, “Trump is making a deal with the devil to save his imperiled political fortunes.” He claimed, “This dirty deal does nothing but help Iran kill U.S. troops in the Middle East and help and abet Putin, who illegally and brutally invaded our ally Ukraine.” Democratic Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania also wrote on X, “Desperate to escape the cost of his failed Iran war, Trump is stabbing Ukraine in the back and preparing to buy Putin’s diesel,” adding, “He is financing Russia’s war machine while our allies pay the price.”
On the 10th, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska said in a statement, “The answer to high energy prices lies in securing U.S. energy dominance,” and argued that Alaska’s energy production should be expanded instead of importing Russian energy. Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska called the agreement “a major misstep by the president.” Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania also said he would introduce a bill to block purchases of Russian oil and push ahead with a vote in the House.

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