US President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested that Ukraine should elect a new president, citing what he described as current leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inability to negotiate a deal to end the conflict with Russia.

Speaking at the White House, Trump called on Ukraine to get a new President capable of negotiating a deal.

"I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal. For some reason (Zelenskyy) never does," he said.

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Trump reiterated his position that the conflict would not have started if he had been the US President in 2022.

"That war would have never started. There was no reason that war with Ukraine and Russia started. It started due to incompetence. (Zelenskyy) lost 30% of your country, and you've had over a million people go between the two of them, over 2 million people killed. That's a war that should have never started. And I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president."

Zelenskyy Criticises Easing Of Sanctions as "Weak Decision"

Trump's remarks come a day after Zelensky criticised the US-Russia diesel deal, terming the decision "unworthy of our partners" and calling it a "weak decision."

Linking the deal to recent military strikes, Zelenskyy posted on X, "Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia."

US-Russia Diesel Deal

Trump on Friday announced that he had reached an agreement with Russia for a major release of diesel, aimed at lowering energy costs ahead of the midterm elections.

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"Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace," Trump said on social media after talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin confirmed the arrangement, stating that Russia "reaffirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products to the American and world markets."

According to Trump, Russia would supply 500,000 tonnes in November, followed by one million tonnes, with further larger releases promised for subsequent months.

(With Inputs From PTI)

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