Trump Calls for Zelensky’s Replacement After Row Over Russian Diesel Deal

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced, escalating a public row between Washington and Kyiv over a controversial deal involving Russian diesel, according to Reuters.

The dispute deepened as Trump accused the Ukrainian leadership of mishandling energy arrangements linked to Russian fuel supplies, arguing that Kyiv’s current leadership could not deliver an acceptable settlement to the war.

The remarks came against the backdrop of continued fighting in Ukraine, where a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia killed 20 people, including three children, in one of the deadliest recent attacks on the city.

Zelensky’s office has not announced any change in leadership, and Ukrainian officials maintain that decisions about the country’s leadership rest solely with the Ukrainian people. Analysts say Trump’s comments signal growing pressure on Kyiv as Washington pushes for a negotiated end to the conflict.