U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called on Ukraine to choose a new leader instead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The statement came amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Trump has linked the attacks to higher global diesel prices and has demanded that Ukraine halt strikes on Russia’s refining sector.
Shortly before making the remarks, the U.S. president announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies and temporarily eased relevant U.S. restrictions.
A direct call by a U.S. president for a change in Ukraine’s leadership marked a new level in the public confrontation between Washington and Kyiv.