New Delhi: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has backed US President Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to get a new leader, agreeing with the American president’s
criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over his failure to reach a peace deal with Russia.
In a post on X on Sunday, October 11, Musk wrote, “I agree, time for Ukraine to get a new leader,” responding to Trump’s remarks that Ukraine needed a president who could negotiate an agreement to end the war with Russia.
Trump had criticised Zelensky over Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian oil refineries and accused him of failing to reach a settlement with Moscow. Musk’s response endorsed the US president’s demand for a change in Ukraine’s leadership.
The remarks come amid renewed tensions between Washington and Kyiv following Trump’s announcement of an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to facilitate Russian diesel supplies to international markets.
What did Trump say about Zelensky?
Trump called for Ukraine to get a new president on Saturday, October 10, arguing that Zelensky had missed several opportunities to negotiate an end to the war.
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason he never does,” Trump told reporters.
He also claimed that the war could have been prevented had he been US president in 2022. Trump blamed the conflict on what he described as incompetence and said Ukraine had suffered major territorial and human losses. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” he said.
Trump’s remarks followed criticism from Zelensky over Washington’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel supplies. The Ukrainian president warned that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products could provide Moscow with additional resources to sustain its military campaign.
Why are US and Ukraine at odds?
The latest disagreement centres on Trump’s announcement of a deal to bring Russian diesel supplies to the American and global markets, as his administration seeks to ease pressure on fuel prices.
Zelensky criticised the move, arguing that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports without a lasting de-escalation agreement would benefit Moscow and allow it to continue the war.
Trump, meanwhile, has accused Ukraine of worsening global fuel supply problems by targeting Russian oil refineries. He has argued that the strikes could disrupt diesel supplies and affect American businesses.
The dispute highlights growing differences between Trump and Zelensky over the terms of a possible peace agreement. While Trump has pushed for a negotiated settlement, Kyiv has maintained that any deal must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
