Trump calls for new Ukraine president as UK backs Zelensky in diesel row

Trump calls for Ukraine leadership change as diesel row escalates

President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to get a new president after Volodymyr Zelensky criticised a US deal to buy Russian diesel. Trump said Zelensky could have made a deal to end the war and blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for helping to drive up diesel prices. The comments marked his sharpest attack on the Ukrainian leader since their Oval Office clash, and they came as Washington tried to calm fuel prices before next month's midterm elections.

The diesel deal was announced after a call between Trump and Vladimir Putin. Russia agreed to supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes in December, according to reports. Trump called it a big deal and thanked Putin. Moscow said it had partially lifted a ban on diesel exports. One report said the US Treasury had issued a temporary general licence for the purchases effective until April 7, 2027. The move marked a U-turn from sanctions policy: the US had previously penalised countries for buying Russian oil, and Trump had signed a law allowing tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil and gas.

Zelensky called the decision weak and said it would help fund Russia's war. He said all the money goes towards the war against Ukraine and against everyone. He also said Ukraine would be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stopped striking Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukraine kept up attacks on Russian infrastructure, including a drone strike on a data centre belonging to Russian tech giant Yandex in Vladimir, east of Moscow, which halted operations. It also struck an oil-loading terminal in Rostov-on-Don.

Russia continued its own attacks. A strike in Zaporizhia killed at least 12 people, including three children, according to initial reports, with later figures higher. Ukrainian officials said hypersonic missiles aimed at Kyiv were shot down by US-made Patriot interceptors. The attacks underlined Ukraine's reliance on American intelligence and weapons even as political ties worsen.

Trump's remarks drew a warm response from Moscow. The Kremlin welcomed his criticism of Zelensky, with a top negotiator calling the comments iconic and historic. According to the Kremlin, Trump congratulated Putin on his birthday during a 90-minute call and the two leaders enjoyed the conversation so much that neither wanted to hang up first.

In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke to Zelensky and reiterated complete solidarity with Ukraine. Downing Street said the two leaders would meet in person in the coming days and that the UK would strengthen sanctions on Russia. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting backed Zelensky and said the choice of who leads Ukraine is for Ukrainians. He said Putin is the aggressor and that the UK sees it as its responsibility to bring friends back together. The UK government did not directly criticise Trump, but its support for Zelensky was clear.

European leaders are worried the deal is another blow to Western unity. The US and Europe had tried to isolate Putin, but Washington is now doing fuel deals with him while Kyiv's allies question whether the US is still on Ukraine's side. Germany is ramping up its army with a new military service model requiring all 18-year-old men to complete mandatory service, a sign of wider European anxiety.

Analysts played down the likely impact of the diesel deal. The US consumes nearly four million barrels of diesel a day, more than 500,000 tonnes. The amounts promised over three months would cover less than a day's consumption, one expert said. Industry sources said the deal would address around 7% of the gap between diesel production and consumption. Russian refining capacity has been damaged by Ukrainian drone attacks, with 30 to 40% of facilities reported destroyed, so Russia may struggle to export the promised volumes. The main cause of high diesel prices is the war with Iran and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, not Ukrainian strikes alone.

The row has derailed weekend talks that were meant to look for an end to the war. Ukraine is likely to fight on and continue targeting Russian refineries, but it needs US support, intelligence and weapons. Zelensky has thanked British leadership, and the UK has promised to keep up pressure on Russia. The relationship with the White House, which had been slowly rebuilt after the Oval Office bust-up and a Vatican-inspired reconciliation, will now have to be rebuilt again.