US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries and suggested that Ukraine needs a new leader capable of negotiating a settlement with Moscow. His remarks come amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over a US-backed arrangement allowing Russia to export diesel.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump issued a blunt warning to Ukraine over its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

“He better damn well stop,” Trump said, referring to the Ukrainian attacks. He also called for a change in Ukraine’s leadership, saying, “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.”

The comments followed Trump's announcement of a diesel supply arrangement involving Russia, which Kyiv fears could provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain its invasion of Ukraine.

According to an Axios report citing a US official familiar with the discussions, Trump decided to move forward with the arrangement after Zelenskyy allegedly ignored six American requests to stop targeting Russian refineries.

The development has exposed a growing divide between the two governments over the terms of a possible peace agreement. Zelenskyy has argued that easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports would weaken pressure on Moscow and help finance its continued military operations.

Trump Links Refinery Strikes To Rising US Fuel Costs

A US official cited by Axios said the Trump administration wanted Kyiv to stop striking Russian refineries without requiring Moscow to first suspend its attacks on Ukraine's power infrastructure.

During talks with Trump and his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Zelenskyy reportedly offered to suspend the refinery strikes if Russia agreed to stop targeting Ukraine's electricity network. Trump, however, wanted Ukraine to halt the attacks regardless of whether Russia made a reciprocal commitment, the official said.

The administration's position was partly influenced by concerns that disruptions to Russian refining operations could contribute to higher fuel prices in the United States.

“The attacks on the refineries cause pain in Russia, but it causes pain for the US, too,” the official said.

The official also indicated that Trump did not view Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities as equivalent to Russian strikes on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure.

Ukrainian drone attacks have disrupted Russia's energy sector in recent months. Moscow subsequently imposed restrictions on diesel exports, further tightening supplies in an already strained global fuel market amid the war in Iran.

US Envoys Hold Eight-Hour Talks With Ukrainian Officials

Diplomatic efforts continued on Friday, when Witkoff and Kushner met Ukrainian negotiators in Miami for approximately eight hours.

According to the US official cited by Axios, the American representatives informed the Ukrainian side that Trump intended to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and proceed with easing sanctions affecting Russian diesel exports.

The envoys also explained that the decision followed repeated American appeals for Kyiv to stop its refinery strikes.

A Ukrainian official alleged that the US representatives warned that continued Ukrainian attacks could lead Trump to suspend intelligence assistance to Kyiv.

The US official disputed that account, saying the envoys had instead emphasised Washington's role in providing Ukraine with weapons and intelligence. They urged Ukrainian officials to consider the impact of further refinery strikes on American consumers, the official said.

The disagreement adds another complication to Washington's efforts to broker an end to the war. While the Trump administration is seeking to reduce pressure on fuel markets and advance negotiations, Ukraine argues that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports could strengthen Moscow's capacity to continue fighting.

Zelenskyy Calls Diesel Arrangement A ‘Gift’ To Putin

Zelenskyy has strongly opposed the proposed easing of sanctions, warning that additional revenue from diesel exports would help Russia prolong its military campaign.

The Ukrainian president described the arrangement as a “gift” to Putin, arguing that reducing economic pressure on Moscow could encourage further attacks rather than advance peace efforts.

He also accused Russia of continuing its assault on Ukrainian civilians despite the move on diesel exports.

“Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media on Saturday.

Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes across the country's south-eastern region killed 15 people, including three children, early on Saturday. The reported casualties came amid Zelenskyy's warnings that concessions to Moscow could embolden it to continue its offensive.

“Last night confirmed once again that in Russia, they take any easing of pressure to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they can keep dropping bombs on cities. Different signals are needed,” he said.

Kyiv also experienced widespread power outages, according to Ukraine's largest private energy company.

The latest confrontation highlights the competing priorities of Washington and Kyiv. Trump has emphasised the need to address fuel-price pressures and secure a negotiated settlement, while Zelenskyy maintains that easing sanctions on Russian energy exports risks giving Moscow more resources to continue its war.