Arabic version: ترامب يدعو إلى رئيس أوكراني جديد بسبب اتفاق الديزل

According to BBC News, US President Donald Trump said it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” after Volodymyr Zelensky criticised a US agreement with Russia to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April. Zelensky said the arrangement would give Moscow money to buy military equipment and continue its war against Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, Trump said Zelensky “wants to make problems for the world” by authorising attacks on Russian refineries. He said Ukraine should “get a new leader who can make a deal” and added: “He could have made many deals and for some reason, he never does.” Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified strikes on energy-generating and transport facilities, as well as major logistics hubs.

Trump confirmed on Friday that Russia would release an initial 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the American and global market, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November. He wrote that a further million tonnes would follow, then another 3m tonnes within a short period, subject to the condition of Russian diesel refineries. Russia has faced two waves of severe fuel shortages in the past 10 months after Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, while the International Energy Agency estimated Russian diesel production had fallen by 30%.

Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s comments “iconic and historic” and said Ukraine needed leadership focused on peace. Zelensky spoke with several allies on Saturday, seeking decisions to protect lives in Ukraine and European security. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Zelensky agreed Russia should accept an immediate energy ceasefire and halt Black Sea shipping attacks, according to Downing Street. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Europe would not ease pressure on Russia and that foreign ministers intended to approve a major new sanctions package on Monday.