Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-10**Lead**
Former President Donald Trump on Monday called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing a reported clash over a Russian diesel deal that Trump described as a betrayal of American interests. In a statement issued through his political action committee, Trump said Ukraine should “get a new president” after what he characterized as Zelenskyy’s willingness to engage in energy trade with Moscow despite ongoing U.S. sanctions. The remarks mark the sharpest public criticism of the Ukrainian leader by Trump since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war and come as the former president continues to position himself as a potential candidate for the 2028 Republican nomination.
**Context**
The dispute centers on a reported agreement between Ukraine and Russian energy firms to resume diesel imports from Russia, a move that would undercut Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to multiple international news agencies, including Reuters and the Associated Press, Ukrainian officials have been exploring the purchase of Russian diesel to alleviate domestic fuel shortages, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from Washington. The Biden administration has maintained a strict sanctions regime against Russian energy exports, and any Ukrainian engagement with Russian suppliers could weaken the coordinated Western response to Moscow’s aggression.
Trump’s reaction amplifies a long-standing skepticism of Zelenskyy that dates back to Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, when he was accused of withholding military aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate then-candidate Joe Biden. Since leaving office, Trump has repeatedly questioned the scale of U.S. aid to Ukraine and suggested that Kyiv should negotiate a settlement with Russia. His latest demand for Zelenskyy’s removal goes further, echoing rhetoric used by some Republican hardliners who argue that Ukraine’s leadership is corrupt or ineffective.
The diesel deal itself remains unconfirmed by Ukrainian or Russian authorities, but reports indicate that preliminary talks have taken place between state-owned Naftogaz and Russian energy companies. The European Union and the United States have warned that any such arrangement would violate existing sanctions and could trigger new penalties. Ukraine’s energy sector has been severely damaged by Russian missile strikes, leaving the country dependent on imports from Europe, but Russian diesel remains cheaper and logistically accessible via pipeline.
**Analise**
Trump’s intervention is likely to deepen divisions within the Republican Party over support for Ukraine. While many GOP lawmakers continue to back military and financial aid for Kyiv, a growing faction aligned with Trump advocates for a more isolationist stance. By calling for Zelenskyy’s removal, Trump is signaling that he would, if elected, fundamentally reassess U.S. engagement with Ukraine. This could embolden European allies who have already grown weary of the war’s duration, but it also risks undermining Ukraine’s political stability at a critical moment when its forces are struggling to hold front lines.
The clash over the diesel deal also highlights the broader tension between Ukraine’s wartime needs and its commitment to Western sanctions. Kyiv has occasionally prioritized survival over compliance, such as when it continued to transit Russian gas to Europe even after the invasion. However, a direct import of Russian diesel would represent a more explicit breach of the sanctions regime and could fracture the transatlantic unity that has been a cornerstone of the response to Russia. Trump’s call for a new president may resonate with voters who believe Zelenskyy has not done enough to root out corruption or who question the billions in U.S. aid sent to Ukraine.
From a geopolitical perspective, the demand for regime change in Ukraine—even if only rhetorical—plays directly into Russian narratives that Kyiv is an illegitimate, Western puppet state. The Kremlin has long sought to portray Zelenskyy as a tool of Washington, and Trump’s statement could be exploited by Russian propaganda to undermine Ukrainian morale. Conversely, some analysts argue that a more confrontational U.S. stance could force Ukraine to take a harder line against Russia, potentially derailing any secret energy deals.
**Fontes**
This article is based on reporting from Reuters, the Associated Press, and statements issued by Donald Trump’s political action committee. Additional context on U.S.-Ukraine relations and energy sanctions draws from publicly available briefings by the U.S. Department of State and the European Commission. No information has been independently verified by FORTIS NEWS, and all claims regarding the Russian diesel deal remain unconfirmed by official sources.