President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president," directly calling for Volodymyr Zelensky's replacement as Ukraine's leader. Speaking outside the White House, Trump blamed Zelensky for Russia's continuing war against Ukraine and for Kyiv's strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he said were driving up diesel prices in the US and worldwide. The remarks, reported by the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, mark the lowest point in the two leaders' relationship since their shouting match in the Oval Office in early 2025.
What exactly did Trump say?
"I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," Trump told reporters on Oct. 10. "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal." He blamed Zelensky for the continuation of a war that, as USA Today noted, began when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and now sees Russia occupying roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Trump also accused Zelensky of "wanting to make problems for the world" by continuing to authorize attacks on Russian refineries, telling him to "damn well stop." "We told them, 'Do whatever you want, but don't hit the diesel fuel because there's a big problem, a big shortage,'" Trump said on Oct. 10. "And what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel."
The rebuke came a day after Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow the United States to import Russian diesel, suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports — a move Zelensky called "weak," arguing it would fund Putin's war effort. Zelensky has defended the refinery strikes, saying Russian oil facilities generate money Moscow uses to finance its war.
What is the context of the US-Russia diesel deal?
Trump announced the deal on Friday following a phone call with Putin, presenting it as a way to increase diesel supplies and lower fuel prices ahead of November's midterm elections, USA Today reported. The WSJ reported that energy analysts say the announced quantities of Russian diesel are limited and that the US-Iran conflict is the main reason for the increase in fuel prices this year — not Ukrainian refinery strikes, as Trump claimed.
The remarks also followed a Friday meeting in Miami between White House negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian officials. According to the WSJ, citing four people familiar with the conversation, the US negotiators repeatedly mentioned American assistance to Ukraine — including intelligence sharing — and said Kyiv should comply with Trump's requests to stop the refinery strikes. No explicit threat to cut off intelligence was made, according to two people present, though some participants read an implied threat into the remarks; a US official denied any threat was made.
Ukrainian officials say they will continue hitting Russian refineries — Moscow's main source of war-funding revenue — unless Russia also stops bombing Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Putin has rejected a mutual pause, the WSJ reported. Meanwhile, Russian aerial bombs killed at least 20 people, including three children, in Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, according to Ukrainian emergency services cited by the Journal.
How have US lawmakers reacted?
The diesel deal and the rebuke drew condemnation from both parties. Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.) told the WSJ that "propping up Putin's war economy is morally wrong as he uses that money to bomb cities," calling Trump's policies toward Russia and Ukraine "failures." Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.) said the deal violates a 2022 law requiring congressional consultation before the US imports Russian energy. Shortly after Trump's rebuke, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) posted on social media to Zelensky that Congress and the American people "stand 100% behind you," making no mention of Trump's remarks.
This article was published on a Saturday; markets were closed, so no market snapshot box is carried. All quotes are direct from tiered reporting of the president's on-camera remarks; no contested claims are involved.
