European leaders back Zelensky after Trump calls for a new Ukrainian president

U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukraine needed a new president, criticizing Volodymyr Zelensky for not making what Trump called possible deals.

Germany, Britain and France publicly backed Zelensky and said they would continue supporting Ukraine.

Zelensky said he was ready to hold presidential elections before the war ends, but said this would require a 60-day ceasefire.

He said he would accept the Ukrainian people’s choice.

The dispute comes as Trump has called for Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries, and he said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire.

Zelensky said Ukraine had supported the idea, but described a Russian drone strike on a power plant in Kharkiv after Trump’s announcement.

Moscow had not officially commented on the energy ceasefire, and it was unclear what the agreement meant.