TL;DR
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Donald Trump said on October 10 that Ukraine should get a new president, criticizing Volodymyr Zelensky over the failure to reach a deal and Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities. The remarks came amid renewed tensions over U.S. policy toward Russia, including a Treasury license for Russian diesel exports; the potential effect on U.S. intelligence sharing and military support remains unclear.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukraine should get a new president, criticizing Volodymyr Zelensky for not reaching a deal and for strikes on Russian oil facilities. The October 10 comments come as the U.S. has authorized Russian diesel exports and Ukraine remains dependent on Western support in its war with Russia.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Ukrainians should choose a leader who could make a deal. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new President,” he said, according to the remarks reported by Meduza. The Wall Street Journal described relations between Trump and Zelensky as having reached their “lowest point” since their Oval Office confrontation in early 2025. Axios characterized the situation as a “serious crisis.” Those are assessments by the outlets, not formal statements by either government.
Trump also criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying the U.S. had warned Zelensky not to strike them and telling him to stop, amid reports that he expects Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries. Trump has argued that attacks on refineries are contributing to higher U.S. fuel prices, Axios reported. His comments came a day after he reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Russian diesel fuel to reach U.S. and global markets.
The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a license allowing Russia to supply diesel to the global market despite U.S. sanctions. The license is valid until April 7, 2027. Zelensky called the decision “an obvious weakness,” arguing that allowing Russian petroleum products to be sold would fund a war that should be ended. On October 11, he said Ukraine would stop striking Russian refineries if Russia stopped attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, adding that any de-escalation must be mutual and backed by real guarantees.
Tensions Put U.S. Support in Focus
The dispute matters because Ukraine’s military depends on Western assistance, while European governments have spent the past year and a half trying to persuade Trump to sustain U.S. support and keep pressure on Moscow, according to the Wall Street Journal. A deterioration in relations could complicate those efforts and affect coordination between Kyiv and Washington.
Journalist Paul Ronzheimer, who reports for Bild and Welt and writes for Politico, said on X that Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian leader shocked Kyiv. He reported that a close adviser to Zelensky said the government expected to face renewed attention during the U.S. midterm election campaign, but “never expected THIS.” Ronzheimer also reported that Kyiv’s main concern is a possible halt to U.S. intelligence sharing, which could affect Ukrainian military operations. The supplied reporting does not say such a halt has been announced.
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A Dispute Over Strikes and Diesel
The clash follows the Oval Office confrontation in February 2025, after which the United States temporarily stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, according to the source report. That precedent helps explain Kyiv’s concern about the possible consequences of another breakdown in relations, although no new intelligence suspension has been confirmed.
The current dispute combines two separate issues: Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and Washington’s decision to permit Russian diesel exports. Zelensky has framed the refinery strikes as conditional on Russia stopping attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. Trump has urged Kyiv to stop the strikes, while Estonia’s prime minister, Kristen Michal, criticized the diesel arrangement and said Estonia and the European Council should discuss further investment in Ukraine. Elon Musk also backed Trump’s criticism in posts on X, writing that Zelensky had “gone too far” and that it was time for Ukraine to get a new leader.
“Any de-escalation steps must be mutual and come with real guarantees.”
— Volodymyr Zelensky, October 11
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No New Aid or Intelligence Halt Confirmed
It is not clear whether Trump’s remarks will lead to a change in U.S. policy toward Ukraine, including military assistance or intelligence sharing. The source report identifies Kyiv’s fear of a possible intelligence cutoff but does not report that one has been ordered. It also does not establish the terms or implementation details of the reported understanding between Trump and Putin beyond the Treasury license for Russian diesel exports.
The effect of the diesel license on Russian revenue, fuel markets, and the war is also not quantified in the available reporting. Trump’s assertion that Ukrainian refinery attacks are raising U.S. fuel prices and Zelensky’s argument that Russian exports finance the war remain claims by the respective leaders.
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Kyiv and Allies Watch for Policy Moves
The immediate developments to watch are whether Washington changes its support for Ukraine and whether the two governments can agree on the conditions for de-escalation. Zelensky has said any pause in Ukrainian refinery strikes depends on Russia stopping attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure; he believes Putin does not want to stop those attacks.
Estonia and the European Council were expected to discuss whether additional investment in Ukraine could be made quickly, according to Michal’s remarks. The source report does not provide a confirmed date or outcome for that discussion. No further U.S. decision on intelligence sharing, aid, or the diesel license was reported.
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Key Questions
What did Trump say about Zelensky?
Trump said on October 10 that Ukraine should choose a new president, arguing that Zelensky had failed to make a deal. He also urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.
Why is Trump criticizing Ukraine’s refinery strikes?
Trump said the United States had warned Zelensky against striking Russian refineries and claimed the attacks were contributing to higher U.S. fuel prices. That explanation is Trump’s claim; the source report does not independently establish the effect on prices.
Has the United States stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine?
No new halt was confirmed in the reporting. Kyiv fears a possible cutoff, partly because intelligence sharing was suspended after the February 2025 Oval Office clash.
What did Zelensky say about stopping refinery attacks?
Zelensky said Ukraine would stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He said any de-escalation must be mutual and supported by real guarantees.
What is the U.S. diesel license for Russia?
The Treasury Department issued a license allowing Russia to supply diesel fuel to global markets despite U.S. sanctions. The license is valid through April 7, 2027, according to the source report.
Source: rss
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