Trump Urges Ukraine to Replace Zelenskyy

Donald Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House on 10 October 2026 before leaving for a rally, said he suggests Ukraine get a new leader who can make a deal, adding that for some reason Zelensky never does. He said Zelensky could have settled the war many times and chooses not to, and that Kyiv was told it could do whatever it wants to Russia but not hit refineries, calling that a world problem. Trump said Zelensky wants to make problems for the world and for U.S. farmers and ranchers with diesel fuel, and that he had better damn well stop. He cited Ukraine having lost 30 percent of its country, over a million people killed, and over two million killed on both sides, and defended a deal with Moscow to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April.

Zelensky condemned the sanctions relief as revenue for Moscow to continue the war and proposed halting Ukrainian refinery strikes if Russia stops strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure. Russian strikes killed at least 20 people in Zaporizhzhia. Kaja Kallas criticized the suspension on Saturday and said EU foreign ministers intended to approve the largest sanctions package on Russia since the full-scale invasion, with a vote expected Monday. Downing Street said Andy Burnham spoke by phone with Zelensky, reiterated UK support, and said Britain would strengthen sanctions after new UK designations that week.

Read the full story on IJR