Trump Warns Zelenskyy to Halt Refinery Strikes, Calls for New Ukrainian Leader
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 10
Trump Warns Zelenskyy to Halt Refinery Strikes, Calls for New Ukrainian Leader
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 10
Summary
Trump on Saturday sharply escalated his clash with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian president "better damn well stop" attacks on Russian oil refineries and that Ukraine should install a new leader.
The warning came a day after Zelenskyy accused Trump of using peace talks as a smokescreen while cutting a deal with Russia to temporarily ease sanctions on diesel exports.
Trump said Zelenskyy could have settled the war "many, many times" and was choosing not to, deepening his public break with Kyiv as he presses his own approach to negotiations with Moscow.
Zelenskyy's office declined to comment, leaving the latest exchange to underscore widening strains between Washington and Kyiv over war strategy, sanctions and energy flows.
How will European allies retaliate now that Washington has shattered the unified sanctions front to secure cheap Russian fuel?
With half of its refineries reportedly crippled, can Moscow actually deliver the promised diesel, or is this an empty promise?
U.S.-Russia Diesel Accord of 2026: Sanctions Reversal, NATO Rift, and the Limits of Emergency Energy Diplomacy
Overview
In October 2026, a severe global diesel shortage erupted after the U.S.-Iran war led to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing insurers to halt coverage and slashing Middle Eastern fuel exports. At the same time, Ukrainian drone strikes crippled Russian refineries, prompting Moscow to restrict its own diesel exports. These combined shocks cut global refining capacity by up to 10%, driving U.S. diesel prices to record highs. In response, President Trump struck a controversial deal with Russia to import diesel, bypassing recent U.S. sanctions. This move triggered legal challenges, political backlash, and deepened rifts with Ukraine and European allies, while failing to resolve the underlying supply crisis.