Trump calls for Ukraine election, says Zelenskyy failed to end war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has faced criticism from US President Donald Trump, who insists that the nation needs a new leader to end the ongoing conflict with Russia. Trump's main grievance is Zelenskyy's failure to secure a peace deal, despite numerous opportunities, and blamed him for soaring diesel prices in the United States. The controversy intensified after Russia launched deadly strikes on Ukraine, killing 20 people, including three children, in a south-eastern region on Saturday.

Zelenskyy attributed the strikes to a "gift" from Russia in response to the recent diesel deal between the United States and Russia. The agreement, announced on Friday while Ukrainian negotiators were in Miami for peace talks, caught Kyiv off guard. Trump praised the deal, stating it would help lower fuel prices, a key issue for voters ahead of the US midterm elections in November.

The EU has expressed its disapproval of the deal, threatening to impose new sanctions. European leaders have criticized the move, warning that it provides Moscow with more revenue to continue its war efforts. The US, European leaders, and Ukraine have all weighed in on the situation, with US allies vowing to maintain sanctions and condemn Russia's actions.