MEPs have reacted angrily to US President Donald Trump suggesting Ukrainians find a new leader
This comes after President Trump said he thinks “it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president” as he responded to Volodymyr Zelensky’s criticism of the US diesel deal with Russia.
Zelensky warned a new deal to release millions of tonnes of Russian diesel into the US would provide Russia with money to continue its war in Ukraine.
The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament now says it “firmly rejects” President Trump’s call for Ukraine to replace President Zelenskyy.
In a strongly worded statement it said, “It is not for Washington to choose Ukraine’s leaders: that choice belongs to Ukrainians alone.”
It said “Renew Europe stands firmly and unequivocally with Ukraine and its people in their fight for freedom, sovereignty and a just and lasting peace.”
It goes on, “The diesel deal struck between Washington and Moscow, together with an easing of US sanctions, is a gift to Vladimir Putin at Ukraine’s expense.”
It will provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain its war of aggression while undermining the international pressure needed to bring it to an end. Europe will not follow: reopening the European energy market to Russian products is out of the question.
Further comment came from Valérie Hayer, leader of the Renew Group, one of the main groupings in the EU parliament.
The MEP stated : “Trump is handing Putin a financial lifeline while Russian missiles destroy Ukrainian homes and power plants. This deal is a betrayal of Ukraine and a direct blow to European security. Putin gets revenues to fuel his war; Trump gets an election stunt at the pump. Ukrainians pay the price in blood. Europe must confront this reckless decision with tougher sanctions on Russia and stronger military support for Kyiv. Our security is not Trump’s to sell.”
The comments were echoed by another MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Liberalų sąjūdis, Lithuania), Renew shadow rapporteur for Ukraine, who emphasised : “Trump’s misguided decision signals continued chaos and ultimately supports Russia, which shows no signs of a ceasefire or peace negotiations.”
“The EU must take the initiative by maintaining strict sanctions against Russia and abandoning all dependence on Russian fossil fuels. We must remain united in our support for Ukraine by fulfilling the promises made regarding military and economic support, and by protecting Ukrainian lives.”
The RE statement said, “This is no time to ease pressure on Putin. Russia’s continued attacks expose the hollowness of any ceasefire announcement that is not backed by concrete commitments and action.
“Ukraine has shown its readiness to respect a genuine, reciprocal energy truce. If there is to be an energy truce between Russia and Ukraine, it cannot be imposed on Ukrainians. It must be fully respected by Russia too, which so far has shown no willingness to do so: new strikes on energy facilities in Kyiv and Kharkiv were reported right after President Trump’s announcement of 11 October.
“President Trump’s approach appears to be increasingly driven by domestic considerations. Blaming Kyiv while striking a deal with Moscow is the wrong response. Rather than blaming Kyiv, the Trump administration should address the real causes of rising fuel prices without rewarding Russian aggression or weakening the sanctions regime.”
It says, “Europe must stand firm, maintain pressure on the Kremlin and continue providing Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself. A just and lasting peace cannot be built by rewarding the aggressor, undermining the victim or dictating the victim’s political future.”
