Trump urges Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy and halt refinery strikes

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and stop attacks on Russian oil refineries as Washington moves ahead with a diesel supply arrangement with Moscow.

“He better damn well stop,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday, referring to Ukrainian strikes.

“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,” he said.

According to Axios, citing a US official, Trump decided to proceed with the arrangement after Zelenskyy ignored six US requests to halt the attacks.

Washington believes the strikes are contributing to rising fuel prices. “The attacks on the refineries cause pain in Russia, but it causes pain for the US, too,” the official said.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held eight hours of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Miami on Friday. They urged Kyiv to avoid actions that could hurt American consumers.

A Ukrainian official alleged that the envoys warned that continued strikes could prompt Trump to suspend intelligence support. The US official disputed that account.

Zelenskyy criticised the arrangement, warning that easing sanctions would help Russia finance its war. He described the deal as a “gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“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 on social media on Saturday.

Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes in the country's south-east killed 15 people, including three children, early Saturday.