OMM Redaksiyası
US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine needs a change of president and criticized Volodymyr Zelensky for continuing attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, October 10, Trump said, “It is time for a new president in Ukraine.” He called on Zelensky to stop strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
Trump made the remarks a day after announcing an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume some Russian diesel exports. Zelensky reacted sharply, saying that easing pressure on Moscow would embolden Russia further.
“Today, Russia said it dropped five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia in response to the easing of sanctions on diesel exports,” Zelensky said, referring to a Russian attack that killed 20 people, including three children.
A six-year-old girl was among those killed when part of a residential building collapsed in the southern Ukrainian city. After rescuers recovered her body from the rubble, her grandfather, Anatoliy Chumniy, was photographed mourning beside her.
Trump claimed that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries had driven up diesel prices and harmed US farmers and ranchers.
“I told him: ‘You can do what you want, but don’t hit the refineries,’” Trump said, adding: “He absolutely has to stop it.”
The US president also blamed Zelensky for failing to reach a peace agreement with Russia. He said the Ukrainian president could have secured “numerous agreements” but had not done so. Zelensky, meanwhile, has urged Washington to increase pressure on Moscow and push Russia into serious negotiations to end the war.
The diesel export agreement with Putin has also drawn criticism in Washington. Republican Congressman Don Bacon said the United States should impose additional sanctions recently approved by Congress rather than ease existing restrictions.
Analysts cited by Reuters said the deal was unlikely to lower fuel prices for long, as Russian exports remained well below normal levels and Ukrainian attacks were affecting refinery output.
Rising prices for diesel and other energy products have become a political issue for Trump and his Republican Party ahead of the US midterm elections in November.
As Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian and European officials worked with US representatives in Miami on Friday on a joint proposal to end the war. A person familiar with the talks said Trump announced the agreement while discussions were ongoing, surprising the Ukrainian side.
Putin also said an immediate resumption of peace talks would be difficult, citing Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelensky on Saturday and said London would tighten sanctions against Russia. The two leaders are expected to meet in person in the coming days.
Washington is therefore urging Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian energy facilities, while Ukraine wants greater pressure on Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities continue.
