Trump urges Ukraine to replace Zelensky after Russia diesel deal

Summary

On Saturday, President Trump called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky with someone willing to make a deal with Russia to end the war. The call followed Trump's announcement Friday of a diesel deal with Russia and a temporary U.S. sanctions waiver, which Zelensky criticized as unfair and a gift to Putin. Zelensky told Axios he had been blindsided and that U.S. officials had not raised the diesel deal during their talks. An unnamed U.S. official told Axios that Trump made the deal after Zelensky ignored repeated U.S. requests to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Timeline

1. Axios

   9 Oct 2026, 20:23 UTCSource ↗

   Axios reports that Trump announced a deal for Russia to supply diesel to U.S. and global markets and that the Treasury Department issued a temporary license allowing Russian diesel supplies, prompting Zelensky to condemn the move.

2. Axios

   9 Oct 2026, 21:37 UTCSource ↗

   Axios reports that Zelensky told it Trump's diesel deal was unfair and dishonest, and said U.S. officials had not raised the deal during their negotiations.

3. Axios

   10 Oct 2026, 00:35 UTCSource ↗

   Axios reports that an unnamed U.S. official said Trump decided on the diesel deal after Zelensky ignored multiple U.S. requests to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.

4. Axios

   10 Oct 2026, 17:27 UTCSource ↗

   Axios reports that Trump called on Ukraine to choose a new president, saying Zelensky had declined opportunities to make a deal with Russia.