US President Donald Trump called for new Ukrainian leadership on October 10 as he pressed Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that elections could be held if Russia agreed to a full 60-day ceasefire. The dispute accompanies US efforts to lower fuel prices through a Russian diesel deal.

Zelensky sets a condition for elections

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump said Ukraine needed a new leader. He also urged Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, which Trump said contributed to global energy shortages.

In an interview with ABC News, Zelensky said Ukrainians must choose their own leadership. He said Ukraine would organise elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to two months of a complete ceasefire.

The Financial Times and CNN reported that Washington had threatened to halt arms sales and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. According to those reports, Washington threatened to halt arms sales and intelligence sharing unless Zelensky stopped attacks on Russian refineries.

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Energy ceasefire remains uncertain

On October 11, Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacks on energy facilities. Zelensky said he had received no advance notice of the agreement, but Ukraine would respect it.

Zelensky also described the US initiative as a firm proposal, making his support conditional on Russia showing a genuine, lasting willingness to stop the war. Trump presented it as an agreement, while Zelensky's account was more conditional; its terms, formal acceptance and implementation remain unclear.

Russia made no public comment on the announcement, the BBC reported. On Sunday night, Russian forces launched another wave of attacks on Ukrainian power plants, according to the broadcaster.

Diesel deal draws opposition

Trump announced a diesel-supply deal with Putin on October 9. He ordered the US Treasury Department to suspend restrictions preventing Russian diesel sales on world markets, saying the agreement would lower prices for Americans.

The announced supply plan called for more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November. A further 1 million tonnes would follow immediately afterward. The BBC reported that US diesel prices remained well above $6 per gallon, though below their historic peak.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney supported the proposed energy ceasefire but opposed the diesel deal. He said the fuel agreement undermined peace and stability in Europe and helped Russia finance its war against Ukraine.

Four Republican senators joined Democrats in urging Trump to reverse the decision. They said Congress had explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 and argued that allowing Russian diesel into the United States violated that law.