Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president," accusing Zelenskyy of hurting global diesel supplies by striking 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 added.
Zelenskyy responded on Sunday, vowing to continue Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. "Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure," he wrote on X. "It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but (Russian President Vladimir) Putin does not want to do so."
The exchange is the latest in a series of public clashes between the two leaders. Trump, who has been urging Zelenskyy for weeks to stop attacking Russian energy facilities, said on Saturday: "I said to him, 'Do what you want. Don't hit refineries. There's plenty of targets. Don't hit refineries.' And he went out and he hit. He better damn well stop."
The US president also claimed Zelenskyy had failed to make a peace deal despite opportunities. "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals, but for some reason, he never does," Trump said.
The diesel deal with Russia, announced on Friday, is aimed at reducing high fuel prices in the United States. Critics, including Ukraine, have warned it will effectively bankroll Russia's war effort. Zelenskyy argued that every additional $1bn Russia earns from exports would fund weapons, drone upgrades, missile production and mercenary recruitment, and that Moscow would only stop fighting when its ability to wage war is diminished.
The breakdown in relations represents a significant shift from the Biden administration's policy of strong military and economic support for Ukraine. Trump's earlier criticism of Zelenskyy dates back to his first term, when he pressured the Ukrainian leader to investigate political rival Joe Biden.
The Al Jazeera article also noted that in April 2025, Trump said Zelenskyy had "started a war" against Russia, telling reporters: "You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and hope people give you some missiles."