Trump calls for Zelensky's replacement amid diesel sanctions dispute

United States President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine should replace its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, following an escalating dispute over a decision to soften sanctions on Russian diesel shipments. Trump asserted that Zelensky was obstructing peace talks with Moscow and had ignored American demands to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.

The verbal clash comes as Washington faces domestic pressure over mounting fuel expenses just weeks ahead of US midterm elections. Trump announced that he had held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to permit higher volumes of Russian diesel into international markets. Defending the arrangement, Trump stated that Putin strongly desired a settlement to the war, while claiming that Zelensky had repeatedly turned down chances to reach an agreement and had failed to hold elections since the 2022 invasion.

Zelensky condemned the decision to ease fuel sanctions, describing the step as weak. Ukrainian officials and European allies warned that loosening restrictions on Russian energy would deliver critical revenue to Moscow's war effort. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe would not ease pressure on Moscow, noting that relaxing diesel curbs would only sustain the invasion. United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed unwavering solidarity with Zelensky during a phone conversation, with British officials pledging to tighten sanctions against Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga emphasized that Zelensky retains the backing of the Ukrainian populace.

The diplomatic fallout intensified alongside fresh deadly bombardments across Ukraine that claimed at least 21 lives. Ukrainian rescue authorities reported that 20 people, including three children, were killed when Russian glide bombs hit residential structures in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, an 11-year-old boy died during a Russian drone assault. Strikes also triggered wide-ranging electrical outages in Kyiv, with the Russian defense ministry stating it had targeted a military data center.

Zelensky responded to the strikes by criticizing the timing of Washington's sanctions relief, saying Russia responded to the concession by bombing residential neighborhoods.

The policy shift was revealed amid broader diplomatic activity in Miami, where American, Ukrainian, and European officials gathered to discuss potential paths to end the war ahead of winter. US envoy Steve Witkoff labeled the talks constructive, noting the involvement of NATO, the European Commission, Ukraine, and the E3. The Kremlin confirmed that Trump had communicated his de-escalation concepts to Putin during a phone call, stating that the Russian leader had received them with understanding.