United States President Donald Trump has publicly called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced as the primary negotiator in efforts to end the war with Russia. The statement marks a significant escalation in the public rift between the two leaders, who have exchanged sharp criticisms over the past several days regarding the conduct of the conflict and peace diplomacy.
Trump Questions Zelenskyy’s Negotiating Role
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump suggested that a different individual should handle the peace talks on Kyiv’s behalf. He argued that the war could have been resolved much earlier if Zelenskyy had followed his advice.
“Zelenskyy is a man that should have had settled this war a long time ago. If he would’ve listened to me, he would have made a much better deal a long time ago,” Trump said. “Maybe it’s time for Zelenskyy to get somebody else to negotiate.”
This comment follows a series of attacks by Trump on Truth Social, where he claimed Zelenskyy does not genuinely want to end the war. Earlier in the month, Trump had labeled the Ukrainian president a “warmonger” in response to Kyiv’s military strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump also defended recent decisions to grant sanctions waivers to Moscow, stating he wants to keep Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged at the negotiating table.
Kyiv Cites Arms Delays and Intelligence Gaps
Zelenskyy responded to the US president’s remarks by warning that such actions would only strengthen Putin’s war effort and hurt Ukraine. During a meeting with US senators on Monday, the Ukrainian president described the current dynamic between the two nations as difficult to reconcile.
“Decisions taken by the Trump administration are hard to explain between friends,” Zelenskyy told the lawmakers. He highlighted specific operational issues, noting that arms shipments have been delayed and intelligence sharing has been restricted. He pointed out that the Pentagon is holding up the delivery of missiles that European partners have already paid for through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List programme.
Zelenskyy indicated that one specific missile package is currently waiting for the signature of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Additionally, several European nations are prepared to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their own stockpiles but are awaiting approval from Washington to do so.
The Ukrainian leader also raised concerns about security warnings. In a video posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine did not receive advance warnings of Russian attacks on three occasions in the past week, a protocol normally provided by US partners. He previously suggested that disruptions to Starlink services in Ukraine were deliberate, a claim rejected by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Controversy Over Russia Diesel Waiver
Tensions are further fueled by Trump’s announcement on October 9 regarding Russia’s energy exports. The US president proposed that Russia supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to US and global markets. This move aims to address soaring fuel prices following the US and Israel’s military operations against Iran in late February.
The decision has drawn anger from Kyiv and European allies, as well as some US officials. Critics argue that allowing Russian fuel into the market rewards Moscow while it continues its four-and-a-half-year war on Ukraine. Zelenskyy warned that the waiver would directly aid the Russian war machine.
Despite the diplomatic friction, negotiations are set to continue. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to travel to Norway this week for the next round of peace talks. Reports indicate that Zelenskyy is expected to attend the meetings in Oslo, which will also include Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, representatives from the E4 group comprising the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland, as well as officials from the European Union and NATO.
Source: Al Jazeera
