'Stop attacking Russian refineries — do it now,' Trump warns; hints at joining Saudi strikes on Houthis; says he'll decide on live execution broadcast

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday (local time). [AFP]
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday (local time). [AFP]

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US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) turned on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Zelensky criticized a deal Trump struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to the United States, saying Ukraine needs "a new president."

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Zelensky "could have ended this war many times but chose not to." He added that the US had told Zelensky he could "do whatever you want with Russia" but had asked him not to strike Russian oil refineries because doing so "causes problems for the whole world." "He wants to cause problems for the world, and he wants to cause problems for our farmers and ranchers," Trump said.

Trump said Ukraine had continued to attack Russian oil facilities despite his warnings, adding that Zelensky "better stop — right now."

Trump went further, saying: "You know what I'm suggesting to Ukraine? Get a new leader who can make a deal. Ukraine has lost 30 percent of its territory and more than 1 million people have lost their lives. That war should never have started, and I think it's time for Ukraine to have a new president."

On Saturday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had reached an agreement with Putin under which Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the US and global markets, with additional deliveries to follow for a total of 4.8 million metric tons. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control subsequently announced a temporary easing of sanctions on the sale of Russian diesel.

Zelensky responded by calling the deal a "gift" to Putin, saying that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products "is the same as investing in prolonging the war that needs to end."

Asked whether the US would join Saudi Arabia in striking Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels amid the ongoing conflict between Riyadh and the group, Trump said, "We might. We'll look at it." He added that he had "just found out about the recent attack" and would make a decision, promising to "respond very quickly."

On whether he would accept the results of the midterm elections regardless of who won, Trump said, "Of course I will, but I don't want a rigged election."

Asked whether the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan — the gunman behind the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas — would be broadcast live, Trump said there were arguments on both sides: some opposed a live broadcast, while others believed it could deter people from committing similar acts. "I know what the military wants, but the final decision will be mine," he said.

Trump also renewed his complaints about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize this year, criticizing the selection of Navi Pillay — a human rights law expert and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and International Criminal Court judge — as this year's laureate. "Nobody's ever heard of her," he said, adding that "all we know is she's very anti-Israel."

Trump also claimed he had ended eight wars and said "there's something wrong with Norway."


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