What Trump Said About Zelenskyy and Diesel Prices—and Why Fuel Costs Are High

President Donald Trump said on Saturday, October 10, that Ukraine should replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a leader willing to make a deal to end Russia’s war. Trump also blamed Zelenskyy for high U.S. diesel prices, arguing that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities were hurting American farmers and ranchers. The attacks have disrupted Russian fuel production, but they do not explain the broader rise in energy prices on their own.

What did Trump say about Zelenskyy?

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.” He argued that Zelenskyy had missed opportunities to reach an agreement with Russia and said it was time for Ukraine to have a new president.

Trump connected that demand to diesel costs. He accused Zelenskyy of creating problems for U.S. farmers and ranchers, who depend on diesel-powered equipment and transport. Trump has been urging Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure.

Those remarks came a day after Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to supply diesel to the United States. Zelenskyy criticized the move, warning that increased energy revenue could help Russia continue its war. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Why are U.S. diesel prices high?

There is a connection between the Ukraine war and diesel supply, but Trump’s claim leaves out major parts of the picture. Ukrainian strikes have damaged Russian refineries. Russia restricted diesel exports in July amid shortages at home, reducing supply available to the global market. A reduction in supply can put upward pressure on prices even in countries that were not buying the fuel directly from Russia.

At the same time, the war involving the United States and Iran has disrupted oil and refined-fuel supplies from the Middle East. Constraints on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have added pressure to world energy markets. Diesel prices reflect those global conditions, not just the status of Russian refineries.

The scale of the U.S. increase is substantial. According to figures from motor club AAA reported by The Associated Press, the national diesel average was about $6.28 a gallon on Friday, October 9, compared with about $3.68 a year earlier. It reached a record of roughly $6.53 on September 22. Diesel costs matter beyond the pump because trucks, delivery networks and farm equipment use the fuel; higher operating costs can feed through to the price of goods.

Will the Russian diesel deal lower prices?

Trump said the arrangement would bring Russian diesel to the United States, beginning with more than 300,000 tons. But an announced supply agreement is not the same as fuel arriving at U.S. pumps, and its effect on prices remains uncertain.

Energy specialists interviewed by AP expressed doubt that the deal would substantially lower nationwide prices. If Russian diesel is redirected to U.S. buyers from existing customers, those customers may have to seek fuel elsewhere. Additional Russian exports could ease some pressure on the global market, but Middle Eastern supply disruptions remain a significant obstacle to a larger drop.

The distinction is central to Trump’s claim: Ukrainian attacks have contributed to a squeeze on Russian diesel, while the wider U.S. price surge has multiple causes. Blaming Zelenskyy alone does not account for the global energy disruptions affecting what Americans pay.