Trump announces Russian oil purchase, urges Ukraine to 'change president'; Russian glide bombs hit civilian buildings, over 20 dead

According to ABC News Australia, US President Trump announced on Friday that Russia would supply the United States with more than 300,000 tons of diesel "immediately," followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November, then another 1 million tons, and would deliver another 3 million tons "in the short term." At the same time, he publicly called for Ukraine to change its leadership.

"I suggest they get a president who can make deals, because he could have made many deals, but for some reason he never did," Trump said before departing for Tennessee to campaign for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. He blamed high US diesel prices on Kyiv rather than on the Iran conflict's impact on global energy markets.

"He [Zelensky] wants to make trouble for the world, wants to make trouble for our farmers, our ranchers on the diesel issue," Trump said. He also claimed Zelensky had "lost 30%" of the country's territory, and said the war "should never have started." Independent estimates show Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Bombs and "Thanks"

Just before and after Trump announced the deal, Russia dropped glide bombs on a residential building in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. Ukraine's State Emergency Service said at least 20 people were killed in the attack, including 3 children, with at least 18 others injured.

Ukrainian President Zelensky posted on X, directly linking the attack to the shift in US policy. "Today, Russia attacked a Zaporizhzhia residential building with five glide bombs — this is the 'thanks' for the US lifting diesel export sanctions." He noted that every additional $1 billion in Russian export revenue would go to weapon parts, drone upgrades, missile production, and mercenary recruitment.

Zelensky said he had spoken with French President Macron about strengthening air defense capabilities, and warned that more missile attacks could come in the coming days.

"Betrayal"

Former US Vice President Mike Pence joined the criticism. He wrote on X: "As Putin continues his brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets, President Trump's decision to lift fuel sanctions on Russia makes no sense and is a betrayal of the legacy and leadership of the late Senator Lindsey Graham."

Trump announced the deal while his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were meeting with Ukrainian officials in Florida to discuss plans to end the war. According to ABC News Australia citing the Associated Press, a senior Ukrainian official revealed the Ukrainian delegation knew nothing about the deal before it was announced and that it had "no connection" to the Florida talks. The delegation has departed for Ukraine.

European allies' concerns

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he regretted the deal, noting that "energy revenue is at the core of Russia's war funding," and pointed out that the EU would pass a new round of 1,600-entry sanctions against Russia on Monday. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Berlin would "continue to be committed to sanctions on Russia" and that support for Ukraine was "steadfast."

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski questioned Russia's ability to fulfill its commitments. Citing embassy reports about fuel shortages in Moscow and "reliable information," he said Ukraine had struck about half of Russia's refining capacity, and asked on X: "So where does the remaining fuel for export come from?"

One month of reversal

The most direct contradiction comes from US domestic policy itself. ABC News Australia noted that Trump just last month signed a comprehensive Russia sanctions bill aimed at curbing oil and gas revenue funding the Russia-Ukraine war. The bill and the diesel purchase agreement run in completely opposite policy directions.

In front of the fallen soldiers' memorial on Kyiv's Independence Square, Ukrainians reacted with a mix of anger and helplessness. Oleksandr Petrenko, 26, said: "Trump has shown his true colors again. He doesn't care about the situation, doesn't care about the shelling, doesn't care about the destruction of our homes. He only cares about oil, fuel prices, and what Americans have to pay."

Oksana Yakunina, a financial advisor from the central city of Kropyvnytskyi, told the Associated Press that the news was "not surprising," and that "Trump has been working with Putin for a long time."

Casualties and uncertainty

UK Ministry of Defence officials recently estimated Russian military deaths at about 500,000. Ukraine currently has no reliable updated casualty figures. Russia's escalating bombing over the past few days has killed more than 60 people in Ukraine.

Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Miroshnychenko, told ABC News Australia that Ukraine domestically "does not take seriously" Trump's remarks about changing presidents, because wartime security threats make elections impossible to hold.