GOP lawmakers reject U.S.-Russia diesel deal, Trump's Zelensky comments

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Saturday that Ukraine should install a new president, blaming Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ongoing war with Russia. This came a day after Trump announced a deal to ease restrictions on Russian diesel supplies, a move that has raised fuel prices in the United States. Trump claimed that the war could have been avoided had he been in charge in 2022, stating that Zelenskyy "never does" when it comes to making deals.

He also criticized Zelenskyy for losing 30% of Ukraine's territory and more than two million lives during the conflict. Zelenskyy, for his part, criticized the U.S. decision to relax restrictions on Russian diesel, warning that it could encourage Moscow to continue its attacks on Ukraine. He accused Russia of using revenue from energy exports to bolster its military and fund weapons production.

Zelenskyy urged the U.S., Europe, and other partners to take stronger measures to limit Russia's ability to wage war. Trump's announcement of the diesel deal followed a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, during which the two leaders discussed the matter in a "very substantive and friendly" manner.