Developing Story
Trump-Zelensky Tensions and Calls for Ukrainian Leadership Change
Trump has publicly called for Zelensky to be replaced as Ukraine's president while simultaneously striking a diesel deal with Russia, even as Russian strikes continue killing civilians in Ukraine. The development signals a major shift in US posture toward the war and raises questions about Western support for Kyiv.
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US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of rejecting multiple opportunities to end the war with Russia (SCMP, October 10). "I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday, adding that "Zelensky could have settled this war many times, many many times, and he chooses not to" (SCMP, October 10). Trump suggested Ukrainians should choose a new leader capable of negotiating an agreement to end the conflict (SCMP, October 10).
This follows Trump's announcement of a deal to buy Russian diesel, which Kyiv warned would help bankroll Moscow's war effort (SCMP, October 10). Russian strikes reportedly killed at least 20 people in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region the day after the diesel deal was announced, including three children killed when aerial bombs hit residential buildings (SCMP, October 10). Missiles also struck Kyiv the same day (SCMP, October 10).
## Why it matters
This marks a significant escalation in US pressure on Ukraine's political leadership and a notable shift in the Trump administration's posture toward the Russia-Ukraine war, with direct implications for Western unity, Ukrainian sovereignty, and the war's trajectory. The simultaneous diesel deal with Russia and continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians underscore tensions between US diplomatic moves and battlefield realities.