US regime leader Donald Trump has asserted that Ukraine should replace Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a new leader capable of reaching a settlement. Speaking at the White House, Trump criticized the Ukrainian president for ongoing strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which he alleged have contributed to surging diesel prices ahead of the US midterm elections.

Trump claimed that under Zelenskyy's leadership, Ukraine has suffered massive territorial and human losses, insisting that the war would never have started had he been in office in 2022. The remarks follow Trump's controversial announcement of a deal to purchase significant quantities of diesel from Russia, a move aimed at lowering domestic fuel costs despite years of strict Western sanctions against Moscow.

In response to the comments, Ukrainian officials defended Zelenskyy, with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stating that the president retains the backing of the Ukrainian people and is performing his duties effectively. Meanwhile, European allies have expressed deep dismay over the US fuel deal, raising questions about Western unity regarding sanctions against the Russian government.

Source: www.aljazeera.com