US President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to change its leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure following a controversial diesel supply agreement with Russia. Zelenskiy reacted strongly, linking the US decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel to a Russian missile attack that killed 20 people, including three children in Zaporizhzhia. The rising global diesel prices due to the war have created political challenges for Trump’s Republican Party as they face upcoming midterm elections.
Trump expressed that Zelenskiy’s actions were harming global diesel supplies by attacking Russian refineries, stating that these actions impacted American farmers. Zelenskiy, on the other hand, claimed that Trump’s announcement only encouraged Russia, asserting that Kyiv wanted the US to apply more pressure on Moscow for negotiations to end the ongoing war. Zelenskiy cited a recent attack that occurred shortly after the US lifted sanctions, highlighting that Russia interprets any easing of pressure as a signal to continue its assaults on Ukrainian cities.
The city of Zaporizhzhia was reported to have suffered significant casualties from ongoing Russian bombings, with a tragic incident leaving a six-year-old girl dead. This was the third major attack in one week, resulting in numerous civilian casualties across Ukraine. The diesel deal faced criticism from both Democrats and some Republican lawmakers, who argued that sanctions should be increased, not lifted. Analysts suggested that the deal would not lead to significant reductions in fuel prices.
In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham assured Zelenskiy that Britain would strengthen sanctions against Russia, and the two leaders planned to meet soon. The strikes continued as negotiations among Ukrainian and European officials with US negotiators took place in Miami to work on a proposal to end the conflict. Trump’s announcement of the diesel deal occurred unexpectedly during these negotiations, leading to additional frustrations from Ukraine. Trump further criticized Zelenskiy for failing to secure a peace deal, insisting that he should stop targeting Russian energy facilities. He emphasized that Ukraine needed a new leader to achieve meaningful agreements.
With information from Reuters
