DOMINANT ANGLE
Kyiv sees Trump's call for a "new president" as the direct consequence of the diesel agreement reached with Putin, and responds by defending its position against Washington.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Trump, Saturday, October 10: "I think it's time for a new president," criticizing Zelensky for strikes on Russian refineries (Ukrainska Pravda EN).
- 02
On Friday, October 9, after a call with Putin, Trump announced that Moscow would supply over one million tonnes of diesel to the global market by 2027 (Kyiv Post).
- 03
Zelensky described the easing of sanctions as "absolutely terrible" and a "birthday gift for Putin" that would bring billions to Russia (Ukrainska Pravda EN).
ANALYSIS
Kyiv, October 11, 2026. For the Ukrainian press, Donald Trump's statement can only be understood in the wake of the announcement made on Friday, October 9. Kyiv Post recalls that the American president announced, after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, an agreement whereby Moscow will "immediately" supply over one million tons of diesel to the global market until 2027. Ukrainska Pravda EN specifies that Trump spoke of an agreement on lifting sanctions targeting Russian diesel.
On Saturday, October 10, before journalists, Trump defended this agreement and targeted Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Ukrainska Pravda, he stated: "I think it's time for Ukraine to have a new president... I suggest they have a new leader who can make a deal." He claimed that Zelensky "could have resolved this war many times" but "chose not to do so." He also reproached him for the strikes on Russian refineries, which, he said, create problems "for the world, for our farmers": Kyiv Post notes that diesel exceeds $6 per gallon, about a month before the US midterm elections.
The two media outlets report on Zelensky's reaction to the agreement. He described the easing of sanctions as an "absolutely terrible" measure and a "birthday gift for Putin" that will give Russia additional billions to continue the war. He also said that the Ukrainian delegation sent to Miami served as a "cover" while Trump and Putin agreed on fuel deliveries. Kyiv Post cites the term "smokescreen" for this visit, which took place while the delegation met with Trump's emissaries.
The press emphasizes the gap between the positions of the two belligerents. Kyiv Post indicates that Kyiv has proposed freezing the front line, while Moscow maintains maximalist demands, including the cession of the Donetsk region, which its forces have not conquered. It adds that recent Ukrainian advances have erased part of Russia's gains in 2026. Ukrainska Pravda relays the version of Yuri Ushakov, Putin's advisor: during the call with Trump, the Russian president ruled out peace talks and said that Russia would continue military operations until it achieves "all its objectives."
In this account, the demand to replace the Ukrainian president appears as the culmination of American pressure on Kyiv, while the agreement with Moscow is presented as a financial gain for Russia.
