US President Donald Trump has sought to replace Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump says Ukraine should elect a president who can make a deal with Russia to end the war. The statement comes at a time when the US has signed a diesel supply agreement with Russia. Zelensky is opposed to this agreement. They charge that easing sanctions on Russia will help President Vladimir Putin continue the war. The dispute is not just rhetoric between the two presidents. Behind it is the Russia-Ukraine war, expensive diesel in the US, the Iran war and the US midterm elections in November.

📹 Time for Ukraine to get a new president, Trump tells Zelensky it’s time to go

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) October 10, 2026

Why did Trump demand the removal of Zelensky?

During a press conference at the White House on October 10, Trump said that Ukraine should elect a new leader. He alleged that Zelensky had many opportunities to compromise with Russia, but did not compromise. Trump is also upset by Ukraine’s attack on Russian oil refineries. He says the attacks have affected Russia’s diesel production and increased global fuel prices.

According to Trump, he asked Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian refineries, but Ukraine continued the attacks. He warned that such attacks must stop. According to Axios, an American official claimed that the US has asked Ukraine six times to stop such attacks.

How did the diesel deal dispute with Russia begin?

On October 9, Trump and Putin had a phone conversation for about 90 minutes. After this, the US decided to temporarily ease restrictions on the export of Russian diesel. The sanctions were imposed about a year ago to reduce Russia’s war earnings. Now Trump wants Russian diesel to reach the global market, to ease pressure on prices.

On October 10, Russia also lifted some restrictions on diesel exports with immediate effect. Zelensky called the American decision a weak move. He said that giving economic relief to Russia is like investing in a war that must end. He alleged that this decision was taken without taking Ukraine into confidence.

Attack on Ukraine after sanctions are eased

On October 10, Russia attacked the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia, killing 20 people. Three children were also among the dead. A six-year-old girl also died. Part of the residential building was reduced to rubble in the Russian attack. Zelensky said Russia responded to the easing of sanctions by dropping five bombs on civilian buildings. This was the third attack in Ukraine in a single week in which a large number of people were killed. About 80 civilians were killed in Russian attacks on Wednesday and Thursday. These include 30 deaths in Kramatorsk, about 130 km east of Kyiv, and 22 in Priluki.

Why is Ukraine attacking Russia’s oil refineries?

Ukraine says Russia’s oil refineries provide fuel and economic resources for its war. So targeting them can weaken Russia’s military capabilities. On October 3, Zelensky told Reuters that Russia was escalating attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy sites. In response, Ukraine will also continue attacks on Russian refineries. Ukraine proposes that both countries stop attacks on each other’s energy targets. Trump, on the other hand, specifically wants to stop Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

How big a challenge is expensive diesel in America for Trump?

The international energy market is already under pressure due to America’s conflict with Iran. In September there were reports that the average price of American diesel had surpassed six dollars per gallon. Due to the increase in diesel prices, the cost of trucking, freight transport, farming and other businesses increases. Mid-term elections are scheduled to be held in the United States in November. In such a situation, rising fuel prices are a political challenge for Trump’s Republican Party.

Can Trump replace the president in Ukraine?

America has no right to elect or remove the President of Ukraine. According to Article 103 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the President is elected by the people of the country and his term of office is five years. Zelensky became president in 2019. The next regular elections were to be held in 2024, but due to wartime martial law, the elections could not take place. Ukrainian law prohibits presidential elections from being held during martial law.

According to Article 108 of the Constitution, the incumbent President continues to hold office until the newly elected President assumes office. Resignation, removal from office by constitutional process and certain other circumstances are grounds for premature vacancy. Therefore, Trump’s demand may create political pressure, but it will not automatically remove Zelensky from his post.

Now what will happen to the peace talks?

On October 9, a meeting of the officials of America, Ukraine and European countries was held in Miami. Its purpose was to prepare a common proposal to end the war. But during the conversation, Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia. According to Zelensky, Ukraine was surprised by this decision. Putin, on the other hand, said Ukraine’s drone attacks on Moscow made it unlikely that peace talks would resume immediately. According to the Russian government agency TASS, American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow in the next two weeks.