US President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to choose a new president amid a dispute over Russian diesel supplies, Macedonian media reported on October 11. Speaking at the White House, he said President Volodymyr Zelensky had missed opportunities to end the war with Russia.

Trump said Ukraine needed a leader capable of reaching an agreement. He also criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying they reduced fuel supplies and raised diesel prices.

Russian diesel supplies divide Washington and Kyiv

A Macedonian news outlet reported that the United States had agreed to import more than 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel. It said the urgent imports were intended to stabilize the US market. The delivery schedule and terms of the reported agreement remain unclear.

Trump said Ukrainian refinery attacks were creating a global fuel problem that affected American farmers. He said Washington had urged Kyiv not to target facilities producing diesel.

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The US administration said greater diesel supplies could ease pressure on prices. Kyiv warned that revenue from Russian energy exports could help Moscow finance its war.

Zelensky described the American decision as unfair to Ukraine. He said the deal benefited Russian President Vladimir Putin and amounted to investment in Russia’s war effort.

Zelensky sets conditions for halting refinery attacks

In a separate statement on October 11, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Russia stopped striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He said any steps to reduce the fighting must be mutual and backed by real guarantees.

Zelensky also said rescue operations had ended in Zaporizhzhia, the Ukrainian city hit by Russian attacks. He reported 23 deaths, including four children, while an earlier Macedonian report gave a toll of 20, including three children.

Ukraine defends its choice of leader

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded that Zelensky had the full support of the Ukrainian people. He said only Ukrainians had the right to decide who led their country.

The Macedonian report placed Trump’s comments during a visit by a Ukrainian delegation to Florida for talks with his administration. It said the Ukrainian representatives ended their meetings after the diesel agreement was announced and headed back to Kyiv.