Trump wants Zelenskyy out over rising US diesel prices

Trump demands Ukraine change its leader

Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on 10 October 2026 that Ukraine should replace Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and called for the country's presidency to pass to another leader prepared to pursue a peace deal. Trump said Ukraine needs a new president who can make a deal, and told Zelenskyy, "Don't hit refineries", saying Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries were driving up diesel prices in the United States.^[1]

Kyiv rejects the demand

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Zelenskyy has the support of the Ukrainian people, pushing back directly against Trump's call for new leadership and maintaining that Ukraine's current head of state continued to hold public backing at home.^[1]

Twenty killed in Zaporizhzhia glide-bomb strike

A Russian glide-bomb attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia on 10 October 2026 killed 20 people and injured 32, according to the Zaporizhzhia City Council.^[2]

The diesel deal reshaping US-Russia relations

Trump's remarks followed his agreement with Vladimir Putin on 9 October 2026 for Russia to supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, with the US Treasury issuing a licence allowing Russian diesel imports until April.^[3]

Australia rules out Russian fuel

Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the government had arrangements with trading partners to keep Russian fuel out of Australian markets and described those trading arrangements as the mechanism intended to prevent Russian supplies from entering the country's fuel market. "We have the arrangements in place as best as we possibly can with our trading partners to ensure that Russian fuel doesn't flow to Australia," Bowen said. "We do not want Vladimir Putin to benefit from this war in the Middle East."^[3]