Trump Calls On Ukraine to Stop Hitting Russian Refineries—and Replace Zelensky
Category: News & Politics
Via: hallux • 4 weeks ago • 15 commentsBy: Marcus Walker and Robbie Gramer - WSJ
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Trump called on Ukraine to replace Volodymyr Zelensky as its leader and piled pressure on Kyiv to stop airstrikes against Russian oil refineries , a day after the U.S. leader announced a deal to boost Moscow’s diesel exports.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters on Saturday, blaming Zelensky for Russia’s continuing war on the country—and Kyiv’s airstrikes for high diesel prices in the U.S. and worldwide. “He better damn well stop,” Trump said.
The broadside against Zelensky marks the lowest point in the two leaders’ relationship since their shouting match in the Oval Office early after Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, and risks undermining 18 months of European efforts to persuade Trump to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.
The clash comes a day after Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to the U.S. and world markets, which Trump said would help to reduce fuel prices. Energy analysts say the announced quantities of Russian diesel are limited and that the U.S.-Iran conflict is the main reason for the increase in fuel prices this year.
Zelensky didn’t immediately respond to Trump’s comments.
At a meeting in Miami on Friday with Ukrainian officials, the White House’s negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff repeatedly mentioned all of the assistance the U.S. has provided Ukraine, including the sharing of U.S. intelligence, and said Kyiv should comply with Trump’s requests to stop the refinery strikes, according to four people familiar with the conversation.
No explicit threat was made to cut off intelligence, according to two people present at the meeting. But it was easy to see an implied threat, according to one of these people and other officials briefed on the conversation.
A U.S. official denied that any threat, implicit or explicit, was made at the meeting.
Ukrainian officials say they will continue to hit Russian refineries, which generate money and fuel for Moscow’s war effort, unless Russia also agrees to stop bombing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Putin has rejected a mutual pause.
For Ukraine, halting the refinery strikes would mean giving up its main leverage to force Russia to stop the war. Russia’s escalating campaign of airstrikes against Ukraine’s cities , energy infrastructure and economy are inflicting a growing toll, and have killed or wounded thousands of Ukrainian civilians this year.
“What allowing Russia to sell oil products means was heard most clearly in Kyiv just now,” Zelensky said earlier on Saturday after a Russian barrage of drones and ballistic missiles.
On Saturday, Russian aerial bombs hit residential buildings in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 20 people including three children, according to emergency services.
For the past month, Trump has repeatedly asked Ukraine behind the scenes to halt the refinery strikes, and has grown frustrated with Zelensky over his refusal to heed his demands, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Yet Trump has limited leverage over Kyiv, having already ended the bulk of American aid for Ukraine’s defense against the nearly five-year-old Russian invasion. But the intelligence-sharing is still valuable for Ukraine’s military, as are weapons the U.S. sells to European allies for Ukraine to use.
The diesel deal has drawn condemnation from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers and prompted some to reassert their support for Zelensky.
“Propping up Putin’s war economy is morally wrong as he uses that money to bomb cities,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.), who is retiring after this term. He said Trump’s policies toward Russia and Ukraine “are failures.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.) said the deal violates a 2022 law that mandates congressional consultation before the U.S. can import Russian energy.
Shortly after Trump rebuked Zelensky on Saturday, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) said in a social-media post to Zelensky that Congress and the American people “stand 100% behind you.” Fitzpatrick made no mention of Trump’s remarks.
The Miami meeting was part of a U.S. effort to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which have stalled after hitting an impasse over Putin’s demand that Kyiv unilaterally give up the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, even though the Russian army has been unable to fully conquer it.
During Friday’s meeting, the American negotiators pushed Ukraine and Europe to help craft a new proposal for Russia to end the war. The proposal will cover territorial disputes, postconflict economic prosperity, and a new security architecture for Russia and Europe, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Putin has continued to insist on fulfilling his war aims in full, which amount to dismantling Ukraine’s territory and reimposing Russian political sway over what’s left. Ukrainians, exhausted by the grueling war, support a ceasefire that freezes the front line but reject the Kremlin’s demands, surveys show.
While European diplomats say Putin has shown no readiness to end the war, Trump on Saturday blamed Zelensky for the lack of a peace deal. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,” he said. “Zelensky could have settled this war many times. He chooses not to.”
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President Trump called on Ukraine to replace Volodymyr Zelensky as its leader ...
The rest of the world calls on America to castrate her leader.
Castrate him? Odds are he hasn't been able to use it for decades, so removing it will not accomplish anything. He needs to be de-pants'd in public so even his die hard MAGA can see him for what he is. An elderly, fat, smelly, diaper wearing, Alzheimer's patient.
... or even seen it.
bad news - trump is now also attempting to pressure our NATO allies to stop selling weapons to ukraine.
good news - when the shit hits the fan, russian sympathizers are just down the street in everywhere USA.
Well, if Trump had kept his promise, and ended this war on the first day of his presidency, Zelensky and Ukraine wouldn't be forced to defend themselves.
But since he's a failure at this, as at most things, they do.
trump and his family's wealth is his sole priority ...
It's telling that Trump wants Ukraine to hold (free and fair) elections for the presidency of Ukraine, and yet he does not call for (free and fair) elections in Russia! BTW, by preponderance of evidence, Russia does not have (free and fair) elections and yet "our" guy who lies about U.S. elections is not bothered one bit by this.
Trump has been attempting to follow ole Puttypoopoo's, lil' Kims', & Victor Armond's road to autocrack t ick toc like a clock the A whole time, and the Orange slime has persisted due too fools too many, in the land of plenty, problems, currently as the tied, has shifted, and hopefully from the asshholes sifted will rise the America we once, knew too little yet got by, too many high on a spineless unchecking on and of the boards who abandoned ship, and their Constitutional duties, and who have slapped and shot US in the face of a GOP that refused to check on he, haw in and a foamin at the jawin a rabid rapid decline where we are left to swim back to sure have a stroke or two smack sum cents in two a bankrupt, morrally and ethically corrupt, regifter grifters gone wild while acting like a child actor, who stars inn the play, where we mite knot get to experience that end of the shake and rub down, known by Trump and cump asz the Happy Ending, butt, pretty damn shores around the world will be celebrating when dapper diaper toting un Dependabull Don, delivers on his own little shut eye during some televised cabinet meeting place where Don's dirty Depends deliver his final dirty nap, asz the entire world, excepting for maybe ole Poooty poo poo, the other, like Epstein, Donny boy never ever really knew, buutt boy could he kiss his asking for another friend, one of Don's, asz45'47 was given & Head of the Epstein Class (allegedly from a vintage 13 year old Ginny, or possibly Jack, but probably Gin, cause we all know Trump don't know Jack, unless it is preceded with the prefix in elections, cause asz we go broke, Trump will get the Fix in, asz best he can, and hopefully we are prepared cause can't run scared, and I B leave the people of this country will rise up above this horrible and horrendous chronological increment of our forever stained image, cause I can't picture US NOT, we've gotta get back to the Stars and Stripes Proud Spot, ore the iron will continue to rust and rot, as a cancer is what Trump and the GOP have GOT, 10, US All dived in two, who could have predicted, F only we had been given a clue.....
Igknorantzruls, I have to share with you how I managed to have 'fun' with your comment: I put it in AI and summarized it (as is) and this is what it returned: ...
What I find astonishing is this: AI did not take a 'breath' (a full second) from my entry and "Enter"-key before it printed out its summary line after line above. That's impressive. And I believe the summary is a complete thought, yes? Fascinating!!
I do so hope (as well) that this mid-term election will provide a path back to civility and democracy in this country, for we are not being served as a nation by this improper and wayward president!
Yes, it B a tit bit interesting, that it can surmise from watt i here write a bit highs as eyes could sea fly to the depths were kept a treasured chest held within the bosom of one a tempting Christ , to keep a breast so as ta get things off, his chest, heaving while deceiving are those on the bench, those with the thirst a quart cannot quench, especially whence it is the decider that should rest width X the height of hippocrazy inn many areas wear a justice mite grant a stay, to see what it should say about others deciding for sisters, not brothers as in the choice for mothers who father the burden many have bin herd in and stored, buy convenience like a Mike Pence , fore skin may have brought about the need, but it is snot just the woman unless a turkey basted and placed it seed is what was the need, let chat chatter on bout that witch cast the first stoned witch into the ditch due to some asses phault line crossed, asz backed up( without a beeper) with concrete evidence from a concrete truck with mortar than enuff to solidify a case where a Pizza Hut Supreme could rule on a Christians (Christ) wet dream....
Guilty pheats ain't know flowers for Algerons algorithms iiii's can't dance too
Trump did not say he wants Ukraine to hold free and fair elections. He said Ukraine should have new President, by which he means one appointed Putin.
Just to be clear to you Donald.
Zelensky is the good guy
Putin is the bad guy