AI-generated illustration

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday, speaking to reporters before leaving the White House, that it was time for Ukraine to get a new president, criticizing Volodymyr Zelenskiy's conduct of the war with Russia.

Trump said he had told Zelenskiy he could do what he wanted against Russia but should avoid hitting oil refineries because such strikes cause global problems. Instead, Trump said, Zelenskiy keeps targeting diesel fuel and must stop. He accused the Ukrainian leader of refusing to end the conflict.

Asked what he would advise suffering Ukrainians to do, Trump urged them to find a leader able to make a deal, saying many agreements were possible but none were being made. He blamed the war on incompetence, saying Ukraine lost 30 percent of its territory and that more than two million people on both sides were killed.

Trump also criticized the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist Navanethem Navi Pillay, saying he had never heard of her and suggesting the prize recognized an anti-Israel stance. Pillay, joining a ceremony in Oslo by video, called U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court unacceptable.

Key Takeaways

• Trump said Ukraine should get a new president and called on Zelenskiy to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries.
• He urged Ukrainians to find a leader willing to negotiate and blamed the war on incompetence, citing heavy territorial and human losses.
• Trump criticized the Nobel Peace Prize award to Navanethem Navi Pillay, while she condemned U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court.