WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, saying the strikes were worsening global energy pressures, and suggested Ukraine should elect a new leader capable of reaching a deal with Moscow.
“We told Zelensky, ‘You can do whatever you want to Russia, but don’t hit the refineries because that’s a world problem.’ And what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel. He better damn well stop,” Trump told reporters.
.@POTUS: We told Zelensky, ‘You can do whatever you want to Russia, but don’t hit the refineries because that’s a world problem.’ And what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel. He better damn well stop. https://t.co/CdRlMcPlKr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 10, 2026
Trump also questioned Zelensky’s leadership, saying Ukraine should choose a president who could reach an agreement to end the war with Russia.
“You know what I suggest? I suggest they get a new leader who could make a deal because he could’ve made many deals and for some reason he never does,” Trump said. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new President.”
.@POTUS on Ukraine: “You know what I suggest? I suggest they get a new leader who could make a deal because he could’ve made many deals and for some reason he never does… I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new President.” https://t.co/WoVG0HUazA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 10, 2026
Trump Announces Oil Deal with Russia
The US President’s remarks came a day after he announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to supply diesel to US and global markets in an effort to ease soaring fuel prices.
Trump said on Friday that Putin had agreed to release more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another one million tonnes thereafter.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also announced a further three million tonnes of potential deliveries, saying the additional supply would depend on the condition of Russia’s diesel refineries.
https://t.co/dJ2TPZARsn
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 9, 2026
He said the deliveries, alongside increased energy supplies from other sources, would help bring down fuel prices in the United States and worldwide.
Also Read: Trump Announces Russian Diesel Deal as Zelensky Calls It a ‘Gift to Putin’
Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the energy cooperation, saying Russian-American collaboration on diesel supplies would benefit the world.
The US Treasury has issued a temporary licence allowing Russian diesel supplies to enter the market until April 7. The move marks a reversal of restrictions imposed on Russian energy exports following the Russia-Ukraine war.
The agreement comes as the Trump administration faces pressure to contain rising fuel costs. The increases have been driven by the war involving Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets.
The average US diesel price stood at $6.28 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association, down from a record $6.53 at the end of September.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, remained above $103 a barrel, compared with about $73 before the conflict involving Iran, according to the figures provided.
Trump has also considered suspending the federal gasoline tax and backed measures to increase fuel supplies. The United States has supported the release of emergency oil and diesel reserves by G7 countries to address supply concerns.
Zelensky Condemns Agreement
Zelensky has strongly criticised the arrangement, describing it as a gift to Putin that could help finance Russia’s war effort.
“Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilised world,” the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.
He described the agreement as “an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged” and urged Washington to maintain strong support for Ukraine.
“We count on America’s fair support for our defence of life, for our defence of people in Ukraine – and on the United States having a correspondingly strong conversation with Russia. A strong one, not a weak one,” Zelensky wrote.
The Ukrainian leader also defended attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying they were a response to Moscow’s continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Ukraine will not set Russian oil refineries on fire if Russia does not destroy our energy infrastructure,” he said.
