Trump calls on Ukraine to replace Zelensky

WASHINGTON, Oct 11: United States President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to replace VolodymyrZelensky, lashing out at the Ukrainian leader for strikes on Russian oil refineries that have contributed to high global diesel prices.

The steep rise in global fuel prices, which followed the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran, has become a political liability for Trump’s Republican Party as it heads into next month’s midterm elections, in which opposition Democrats could gain control of one or both houses of Congress.

“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House, saying Zelensky had hurt global diesel supplies with strikes on Russian refineries.

“He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world,” Trump said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister AndriiSybiha, however, defended Zelensky in a post on X.

“He has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide,” Sybiha wrote. “Statements from abroad only confirm that he is doing his job well. He deserves support.”�" AL JAZEERA