Trump calls for new president in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Saturday that Ukraine should elect a new president, claiming that current leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has failed to bring an end to the war with Russia. At a White House event, Trump stated, "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a [peace] deal," adding, "for some reason [Zelenskyy] never does."

Speaking to Ukrainian citizens, Trump claimed that Zelenskyy had "lost 30% of your country" and that the war had resulted in over a million people being displaced and more than 2 million killed. Independent estimates put the percentage of Ukrainian territory under Russian control at 20%, with recent British defense officials stating that around half a million Russian soldiers had been killed in the war, and that reliable estimates of Ukrainian casualties were unavailable.

Trump also warned Kyiv against targeting Russian oil refineries, instructing Zelenskyy not to hit refineries. The U.S. president's calls for Zelenskyy's replacement followed attacks leveled at Ukraine on Friday, and Zelenskyy's criticism of a U.S. scheme that would fill Russia's war chest and enable Moscow to escalate attacks. Trump has been blaming Ukraine for rising fuel prices caused by his war with Iran and has publicly criticized Zelenskyy for Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

As U.S. voters grow increasingly frustrated and the November midterm elections approach, Trump has repeatedly attempted to shift blame for rising costs onto Zelenskyy.