Trump Demands Ukraine "Change Presidents"; US Temporarily Lifts Russian Fuel Sanctions and Unilaterally Announces Energy Ceasefire

At the White House, US President Trump told reporters "I think Ukraine should get a new president," a statement made the day after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian fuel.

According to a report by The Times of India World, the day after the sanctions were lifted, Trump criticized Ukraine for striking Russian oil refineries — pressure on Ukraine and easing toward Russia appeared simultaneously on the timeline, weakening the sanctions leverage Washington had originally maintained under the banner of "depriving Moscow of war funding."

In an interview with ABC on Sunday, Zelensky called out to Moscow: "Please tell Putin, give us two months, a 60-day full ceasefire, 60 days, and we will hold elections." He emphasized that the choice of Ukraine's leader belongs to the Ukrainian people, not to external voices — and pointed out that Putin likewise wants Kyiv to change its leader.

But on the energy ceasefire issue, there emerged a clear information gap between Kyiv and the White House. Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday: "Effective immediately, an energy ceasefire has been reached in the Russia-Ukraine war. Both sides have agreed. Do not undermine it! Thank you for your attention to this matter." However, according to The Times of India World citing Axios, Zelensky made clear he had no prior knowledge of this announcement. He said bluntly: "The ceasefire announcement is news to me. But if the Russian side agrees to an energy ceasefire, the Ukrainian side will agree. If President Trump has conducted negotiations with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire will begin — we are ready and will accept it."

Whether the Russian side truly accepts the energy ceasefire announced by Trump, as well as the specific scope and enforcement mechanism of this ceasefire arrangement, has not been independently confirmed.

Zelensky previously stated that if Russia stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine is prepared to stop striking Russian refineries. He also refuted claims attributing global fuel price increases to Ukraine, pointing out that what is really driving up oil prices is the conflict in the Middle East.