On Saturday Trump said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president (BBC, DW, Die Zeit, Tagesschau, FAZ, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Der Spiegel). The background is the dispute over the diesel deal with Russia, which Zelensky had called an “investment in the war.” The Ukrainian government is backing Zelensky (Die Zeit, Handelsblatt); “complete solidarity” came from London (Straits Times, ANSA). Dmitriev, Putin’s economic envoy, called Trump’s remark “iconic” (ANSA, EADaily). Republicans in Congress reject the diesel deal and the words (The Hill). Germany is sticking to the sanctions against Russia (Reuters, DW). Russian attacks killed 20 to 21 people on Saturday (France 24, Straits Times).
A US president who publicly calls for the ouster of an ally shifts the situation in the war and in NATO politics. It also affects the negotiating table at which Europe and Kyiv sit with Washington.
The dispute can touch energy prices and the security situation in Europe. For Germany the question is whether the line on sanctions against Russia holds and how Berlin positions itself toward Trump.
Anyone who wants to end the war needs someone in Kyiv who negotiates, and a president in Washington who applies pressure.
The head of state of a country under attack is decided on by its people, not by a foreign president; the move strengthens Moscow.
Two questions matter. First, whether the words turn into a step, such as leverage against Kyiv; so far there is none. Second, whether Europe holds its line. Berlin says yes; a comment from the federal government on Trump’s demand is still missing.
Tagesschau · Der Spiegel · Die Zeit · Handelsblatt · FAZ · Süddeutsche Zeitung · BBC · DW · Reuters · The Hill · Straits Times · ANSA (all Oct. 9–11) · Dmitriev quote only via ANSA and EADaily · plan for a change of power not documented
After the diesel dispute, Trump calls for a new president for Ukraine; Kyiv and London back Zelensky, Berlin sticks to the sanctions
The dispute over the diesel trade with Moscow escalates on Saturday. Republicans in Congress object, Russia praises the words, and in Ukraine 20 to 21 people die in Russian attacks. What Trump intends to do remains open.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump openly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “It is time for Ukraine to get a new president,” he said, according to consistent reports from the BBC, DW, Die Zeit, Tagesschau, FAZ, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Der Spiegel; according to DW, the country is to hold an election for that. The occasion is the dispute over the diesel trade with Russia that we reported yesterday. Zelensky had called it an “investment in the war.” According to Italian media (Il Sole 24 Ore, La Stampa), Trump also demanded that Kyiv stop its attacks on Russian refineries.
The background is domestic politics. On Friday evening, after a phone call with Putin, Trump announced on Truth Social that Russia would “immediately” deliver more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, and later three million. So far the figures come only from him; the Kremlin named no volumes. Fuel prices in the US weigh on him ahead of the midterm elections on November 3, and Washington is easing the sanctions pressure on Moscow for that reason. Zelensky sees this as a gift to Putin; according to ABC, Trump held Kyiv partly responsible for the rising diesel prices in the US.
The Ukrainian government rejected the move and is backing Zelensky, report Die Zeit and Handelsblatt. According to La Vanguardia, Zelensky said gifts to Putin would bring “not peace, but more terror.” Support came from London: Burnham assured Zelensky of “complete solidarity” (Straits Times, ANSA). In Moscow the reaction was different. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s economic envoy, called Trump’s remark “iconic and historic” (ANSA, EADaily). Opposition is also stirring in Trump’s own party: Republican lawmakers reject the diesel deal and the words about Zelensky, reports The Hill.
The federal government is sticking to its line. According to Reuters and DW, Germany is holding on to the sanctions against Russia. According to Der Spiegel and FinancialJuice, Russia has partly lifted its diesel export ban. Experts doubt that this will make anything cheaper at the pump: the FAZ speaks of a “symbolic act” that will barely change prices; Der Spiegel, too, quotes a female expert with doubts.
Meanwhile the war went on. According to France 24 and Straits Times, 20 to 21 people died in Russian attacks on Saturday, mostly in Zaporizhzhia; Reuters had first reported seven dead. According to Reuters, negotiators from the US, Ukraine and European states met in Miami while Trump announced the diesel deal. This week the Kremlin dampened expectations that peace talks will resume soon (Reuters).
What Trump specifically intends to do against Zelensky is not documented in the reports at hand: no plan, deadline or step by the US government is named anywhere. The delivery volumes, too, still come only from Trump. The markets are closed until Monday; WTI closed on Friday at $91.85, up 0.39 percent. For Germany, what counts is whether the allies hold their line on sanctions and how Berlin and Brussels answer Trump’s demand for a change of power in Kyiv. A comment from the federal government on this demand could not be found up to early Sunday.