Ukraine Rebukes Trump’s Call to Oust Zelenskyy as Russian Strikes Kill 20
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 11
Ukraine Rebukes Trump’s Call to Oust Zelenskyy as Russian Strikes Kill 20
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 11
Summary
Andriy Sybiga said Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the backing of Ukrainians and that only they can decide his future, rejecting Donald Trump’s demand for “a new leader.”
Trump escalated the clash after striking a deal that lets Russian diesel reach global markets, urging Zelenskyy to stop hitting Russian refineries and accusing him, without evidence, of blocking peace.
20 people, including three children, were killed in Russian attacks as Moscow also claimed drone strikes on a Kyiv data center and a cargo ship bound for Odesa; Reuters could not verify those battlefield reports.
Britain’s Andy Burnham told Zelenskyy he was in “complete solidarity,” while Germany said it would keep pushing new EU sanctions despite the Washington-Moscow diesel agreement.
The dispute is spilling into diplomacy: US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow within two weeks, while a Ukrainian delegation left Miami after talks on ending the war.
How will European allies retaliate now that Washington has shattered the unified sanctions front to secure cheap Russian fuel?
With half of its refineries reportedly crippled, can Moscow actually deliver the promised diesel, or is this an empty promise?
U.S.-Russia Diesel Accord of 2026: Sanctions Reversal, NATO Rift, and the Limits of Emergency Energy Diplomacy
Overview
In October 2026, a severe global diesel shortage erupted after the U.S.-Iran war led to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing insurers to halt coverage and slashing Middle Eastern fuel exports. At the same time, Ukrainian drone strikes crippled Russian refineries, prompting Moscow to restrict its own diesel exports. These combined shocks cut global refining capacity by up to 10%, driving U.S. diesel prices to record highs. In response, President Trump struck a controversial deal with Russia to import diesel, bypassing recent U.S. sanctions. This move triggered legal challenges, political backlash, and deepened rifts with Ukraine and European allies, while failing to resolve the underlying supply crisis.