Trump Says Ukraine Should Change Its President. Sybiha Responds That the Ukrainian People Should Decide
Reform.news · 11 October 2026, 08:46
https://reform.news/en/trump-says-ukraine-should-change-its-president-sybiha-responds-that-the-ukrainian-people-should-decide/US President Donald Trump said on October 10 that Ukraine needs a new president capable of reaching an agreement to end the war. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters before departing the White House. A clip of his comments was published by the administration’s official Rapid Response 47 account.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump said.
.@POTUS: We told Zelensky, 'You can do whatever you want to Russia, but don't hit the refineries because that's a world problem.' And what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel. He better damn well stop. pic.twitter.com/CdRlMcPlKr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 10, 2026
He suggested that Ukrainians replace their leader with someone capable of reaching a deal. According to the US president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had multiple opportunities to reach an agreement but failed to take advantage of them. Trump did not specify in the published clip which proposals he was referring to.
At the same time, Trump demanded an end to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. He said the US side had warned Zelenskyy that such attacks were creating problems for the global fuel market. The US president said the Ukrainian leader had ignored the warning.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed support for Zelenskyy later that day. In a post on X, he stressed that the president is leading the country during a war for independence, freedom and dignity, has the support of the Ukrainian people, and that it is the people who have the right to make such decisions.
According to Sybiha, statements from abroad only confirm that Zelenskyy is doing his job well and deserves support.
Trump’s remarks came amid disagreements over supplies of Russian diesel fuel and the easing of sanctions pressure on Moscow. The previous day, October 9, the White House’s official account published a statement by the US president saying that significant volumes of diesel would soon arrive in the country. Trump described it as a major deal.
Ukraine, by contrast, insists on increasing pressure on Russia. According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy discussed the consequences of easing sanctions on petroleum products with French President Emmanuel Macron on October 10. He stressed that Russia must not be given additional opportunities to prolong the war. The conversation took place during a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv.