Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Trump Urges Ukraine to Choose New Leader Amid Diesel Deal Dispute
Donald Trump said Ukraine should choose a new president who would make a deal with Russia.
He also told Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.
Trump said Russia would send diesel to the United States and other markets, which he argued could help lower fuel prices.
Zelenskyy said the deal could give Russia more money to keep fighting.
European officials and some U.S. lawmakers also opposed easing restrictions on Russian energy.
The articles differ on some details of the diesel shipments and reported deaths from Russian strikes.
Ukrainian authorities said a strike on Zaporizhzhia killed 15 people, including three children.
The dispute is happening while efforts to negotiate an end to the war continue.
Donald Trump urged Ukraine to elect a new president, saying the country needs a leader able to negotiate with Russia.
Trump told Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, linking them to higher fuel prices before the November 3 U.S. midterm elections.
Trump said Russia would release diesel for U.S. and global markets; his stated volumes included more than 300,000 tonnes immediately and 500,000 tonnes in November.
Zelenskyy condemned the arrangement, arguing that Russian energy sales could provide Moscow with resources to continue the war.
European officials and some U.S. lawmakers opposed easing pressure on Russia; Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes killed civilians in Zaporizhzhia.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and European officials including Kaja Kallas.
- What
- Trump urged Ukraine to elect a new president and stop refinery attacks while defending a Russian diesel-supply arrangement; Zelenskyy and others criticized the deal.
- When
- Trump spoke on Saturday, October 10, after announcing the arrangement on Friday; the articles refer to U.S. midterm elections on November 3.
- Where
- Trump spoke to reporters at the White House; the reported deadly strike hit Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
- Why
- Trump said Ukraine needed leadership willing to negotiate and argued additional diesel supplies could lower fuel prices; critics said Russian energy sales could fund the war.
Critics of easing pressure on Russia
Trump’s defense of the arrangement
Russian diesel sales
Critics of easing pressure on Russia
Zelenskyy, Kaja Kallas, and other critics argued that Russian petroleum sales could provide Moscow with resources to continue the war and that pressure should not be eased.
Trump’s defense of the arrangement
Trump said Russia was releasing substantial oil and diesel for global markets at a low price, and argued that added supplies could reduce fuel prices.
Ukraine’s leadership and negotiating approach
Critics of easing pressure on Russia
Zelenskyy called for the diesel decision to be reversed and said Russia would end the war only when its ability to prolong it was reduced.
Trump’s defense of the arrangement
Trump said Ukraine should elect a president willing to make a deal and told Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian refineries.
U.S. policy response
Critics of easing pressure on Russia
Democrats condemned the arrangement; Republican lawmakers Brian Fitzpatrick and Lisa Murkowski also opposed Russian oil purchases or called for cutting off resources that fuel the war.
Trump’s defense of the arrangement
Trump defended the arrangement as a way to release fuel supplies and address rising prices ahead of the midterm elections.
- Immediate diesel supply announced by Trump
- More than 300,000 tonnes, according to one report.
- Further diesel volumes cited
- 500,000 tonnes in November, followed by one million tonnes and a further three million tonnes, according to one report; another report described cargoes initially totaling about 13.5 million barrels.
- Russian export action
- One report said Russia partially lifted its diesel export ban, allowing 500,000 metric tons onto international markets; it did not specify a shipping date.
- U.S. midterm elections
- November 3.
- Zaporizhzhia strike
- Ukrainian authorities said 15 people, including three children, were killed.
- Other reported strike deaths
- One report put the overall death toll from fresh Russian strikes at 16; another said at least 20 people were killed in strikes on residential buildings.
- European response
- Kaja Kallas opposed easing pressure on Russia; Germany and the UK said they would maintain strong sanctions, according to the reports.
