Trump Calls for Zelensky's Replacement, Pursues 3 Russia Deals
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 20
Trump Calls for Zelensky's Replacement, Pursues 3 Russia Deals
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 20
Summary
Trump has escalated pressure on Ukraine in recent weeks by calling for Volodymyr Zelensky’s replacement and casting him as the main obstacle to ending the war.
Three moves underscore that shift: Trump sidestepped a newly signed bipartisan tariff law on Russia, cut a diesel purchase deal with Moscow, and backed vague outlines for a deal covering much of Lukoil.
Monday, Trump said Russia “has been fine on Ukraine” and “hasn’t been doing much,” despite continued Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and Ukraine’s power grid.
Trump also argued Ukraine has “given nothing” to the United States and pressed Zelensky to stop holding out for occupied eastern territory, saying Kyiv could profit from a settlement largely on Russia’s terms.
The push marks a sharper phase in Trump’s long-standing sympathy toward Putin, pairing diplomatic rehabilitation of Russia with a more explicit effort to force Ukraine into a deal.
Will the reported curbs on intelligence sharing and Starlink access force Ukraine into a settlement on Russia's terms?
How will Europe's defense strategy adapt as the US eases 2026 sanctions and shifts its stance on the Russia-Ukraine war?
Could the controversial US-Russia diesel agreement and potential Lukoil acquisition fundamentally alter global energy markets this winter?
October 2026 U.S. Policy Reversal: Trump’s Push for Zelensky’s Ouster, Russian Energy Deals, and the Fracture of Western Unity in the Ukraine War
Overview
In October 2026, a global energy crisis erupted after the U.S.-Israel war with Iran led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and major oil supply disruptions, causing oil prices to soar and fueling inflation in the U.S. Facing election pressure, President Trump demanded Ukraine stop attacking Russian refineries and called for Zelensky’s removal, then struck a unilateral energy deal with Russia and lifted sanctions on Russian diesel. This triggered U.S. threats to cut military support for Ukraine, congressional backlash, and European condemnation. The policy shift weakened Ukraine’s battlefield position, emboldened Russia, and fractured Western unity, while also prompting controversial restructuring of Russian energy assets and talk of a U.S.-Russia-China summit excluding Ukraine.