"I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal," Trump said when answering reporters’ questions outside the White House in Washington on Saturday.
For some reason, he (Volodymyr Zelenskyy) never gets around to it, Trump added, referring to a peace settlement with Russia.
Trump’s comments came barely a day after he announced a deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin regarding imports of Russian diesel - a statement condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy has emphasized that Trump’s agreement with Putin will only benefit the Russian war machine.
Trump further said he told Zelenskyy that he could do “whatever you want” to Russia, “but don’t attack refineries.” Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian oil and energy facilities in recent months with the aim of weakening Russia’s economy.
"He’ll have to make sure he stops doing that," Trump said of Zelenskyy.
Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s statement about Zelenskyy "iconic and historic."
