Trump calls for new president in Ukraine

US President Donald Trump calls for new leadership in Ukraine, criticising President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not making a deal with Russia to end the Ukraine war.

The full report

US President Donald Trump has called for new leadership in Ukraine, suggesting that current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not done enough to end the Ukraine war with Russia.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said, "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a [peace] deal," adding that "for some reason [Zelenskyy] never does."

Independent estimates put the percentage of Ukrainian territory under Russian control at 20%, with British defense officials recently stating that about half a million Russian soldiers had been killed in the war and that there were no reliable recent estimates about how many Ukrainians had died.

Trump also warned Kyiv against targeting Russian oil refineries, saying he had told Zelenskyy to "do what you want" against Russia but "don't hit refineries."

Trump's calls for Zelenskyy to be replaced follow attacks leveled at the embattled ally on Friday, and Zelenskyy's condemnation of a US scheme that will fill Russia's state coffers and could allow Moscow to step up attacks.

Trump has been trying to deflect blame for rising fuel prices caused by his war with Iran onto Ukraine for the past several weeks and has publicly lambasted Zelenskyy for Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

On Friday, Trump tried it again, claiming of the Ukrainian leader, "He wants to make problems for the world. He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel."

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