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Trump urges Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and calls for new leadership in Ukraine amid a controversial diesel deal with Moscow.
Trump Urges Zelenskyy To Halt Russian Refinery Strikes, Calls For ‘New Leader’
US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries and suggested that Ukraine needs a new leader capable of reaching a deal. His remarks have added to tensions between Washington and Kyiv as the US moves forward with an arrangement allowing Russia to supply diesel to global markets.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump issued a blunt warning over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy facilities.
“He better damn well stop,” Trump said, referring to the attacks on Russian oil refineries. He also questioned Zelenskyy’s leadership, saying, “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.”
The comments followed Trump’s announcement of a diesel supply arrangement involving Russia, a move that has drawn criticism from Kyiv. Zelenskyy has warned that easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports could provide Moscow with additional funds to continue its war against Ukraine.
According to an Axios report citing a US official familiar with the matter, Trump decided to proceed with the arrangement after Zelenskyy did not comply with six US requests to halt attacks on Russian refineries.
The development has exposed differences between the two governments over how to end the war. While Washington is seeking to reduce pressure on fuel prices, Kyiv argues that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports would strengthen Moscow’s ability to continue its military campaign.
Trump Says Refinery Strikes Are Affecting US Consumers
The US administration’s push to stop Ukrainian attacks is partly linked to concerns over rising fuel prices in America, the official told Axios.
According to the report, Trump wanted Kyiv to stop targeting Russian refineries without making the decision conditional on Moscow agreeing to halt attacks on Ukrainian power plants.
During discussions with Trump and his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Zelenskyy had offered to suspend the refinery strikes if Russia stopped targeting Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure. However, the US president wanted Ukraine to halt the attacks regardless of whether Moscow made a similar commitment, the official said.
The administration believes that strikes on Russian energy facilities are adding to the financial pressure on American consumers.
“The attacks on the refineries cause pain in Russia, but it causes pain for the US, too,” the official said.
The official also indicated that Trump did not view Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries as equivalent to Russian strikes on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure.
Ukrainian attacks have disrupted Russia’s energy sector in recent months. Moscow subsequently banned diesel exports, tightening global supplies at a time when the war in Iran had already put pressure on energy markets.
US Envoys Hold Eight-Hour Talks With Ukrainian Officials
The dispute was also a key issue during talks between US and Ukrainian representatives in Miami on Friday. Witkoff and Kushner held eight hours of discussions with Ukrainian negotiators as diplomatic efforts to end the war continued.
During the meeting, the US envoys informed the Ukrainian side that Trump was expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and move ahead with easing sanctions on Russian diesel exports.
They also explained that the decision followed repeated US requests for Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries, according to the official cited by Axios.
A Ukrainian official alleged that Witkoff and Kushner warned that continued defiance could lead Trump to suspend US intelligence support for Ukraine.
However, the US official rejected that account. According to the official, the envoys instead highlighted the importance of Washington’s support, including weapons and intelligence, and urged Kyiv to avoid actions that could increase costs for American consumers.
The disagreement presents another challenge for the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate an end to the war. Washington wants Ukraine to stop the refinery strikes, while Kyiv maintains that Russia should not receive financial benefits from the relaxation of sanctions.
Zelenskyy Calls Diesel Deal A ‘Gift’ To Putin
Zelenskyy has strongly criticised the US decision, arguing that allowing Russian diesel exports would give Moscow more resources to sustain its military campaign.
The Ukrainian president described the arrangement as a “gift” to Putin, warning that easing sanctions would allow Russia to continue fighting for longer and result in more deaths.
He also accused Moscow of responding to the easing of restrictions with further attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
“Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Saturday.
Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes in the country’s south-east early on Saturday killed 15 people, including three children. The reported casualties came hours after Zelenskyy warned that reducing pressure on Moscow could encourage further military action.
“Last night confirmed once again that in Russia, they take any easing of pressure to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they can keep dropping bombs on cities. Different signals are needed,” he said.
Meanwhile, large-scale power outages were reported in Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s largest private energy provider.
The latest exchange of remarks has further widened the gap between Washington and Kyiv over the path towards peace. Trump has defended the diesel arrangement amid concerns about fuel prices, while Zelenskyy argues that easing restrictions on Russian exports would provide Moscow with the resources to prolong its invasion.
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Ask News18US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to halt its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure because the attacks are disrupting diesel supplies and increasing financial pressure on American consumers. Trump also decided to proceed with a diesel supply arrangement involving Russia after Zelenskyy failed to comply with repeated requests to stop targeting the refineries.
Ask News18About the Author
Pragya Bahuguna is a digital journalist at News18.com, covering national and international news, including Indian politics and geopolitics, with an interest in environment and climate affairs. She hol…Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
October 10, 2026, 11:24 pm IST
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