Boris Johnson has led a furious UK backlash against Donald Trump after the US President stood by what the former prime minister called a “sickening” diesel deal with Vladimir Putin.
Mr Trump doubled down on the shock agreement with Russia, which is aimed at easing pressure on Republican prospects ahead of the looming midterm elections, and demanded that Volodymyr Zelensky be removed from office.
The US President blamed Ukraine for the surge in global fuel prices, much of which has occurred since he launched the Iran war. He also warned Kyiv that it had “better damn well stop” attacking Moscow’s oil infrastructure.
Mr Trump said Ukraine, which has resisted Russia’s full-scale invasion for four years, needed a “new leader who can make a deal”.
The comments have raised fears that Washington could punish Kyiv by cutting off intelligence-sharing support.
Andy Burnham spoke with Mr Zelensky by phone yesterday, reassuring him that the UK would continue to support Ukraine. The two leaders are expected to meet in person in the coming days.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in broadcast interviews this morning that “we stand with Ukraine”.
“It’s not the first time we’ve seen these sorts of tensions… our role, our responsibility, is to try to bring our friends back together,” he told Sky News.
Mr Streeting suggested that Mr Trump was confronting the “political reality” of the US domestic electoral calendar. “Midterms are coming up, cost of living is an issue,” he said.
Donald Trump told Ukraine to “get a new leader” after signing an oil deal with Vladimir Putin
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,” Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House, referring to Mr Zelensky
Boris Johnson led a UK backlash against Mr Trump after he defended his “sickening” diesel deal with Putin
Mr Zelensky thanked Andy Burnham for the support he expressed during their phone call last night
Former prime minister Mr Johnson, a prominent supporter of Ukraine, wrote on social media last night: “It is sickening that the USA is now lifting sanctions on Russian fuel, and transparently ridiculous to blame Ukraine for the spike in prices that obviously began with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Putin is murdering innocent Ukrainian civilians every day.
“The Ukrainians are fighting for their lives. And yet the White House is apparently determined to force American drivers to bankroll Putin’s slaughter.
“It won’t work and I doubt it will make much difference to the price of fuel. If we want Russian oil and gas back on the world market then let’s end this war – with a free, sovereign and independent Ukraine.”
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have also criticised the US position.
Mr Trump has faced growing anger from US voters over the war with Iran, which has contributed to diesel prices rising from $3.68 a gallon a year ago to $6.28 by Friday.
In a bid to bring prices down at home, he has explored several measures, including threatening to restrict fuel exports to G7 allies.
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Mr Trump sealed the agreement with the Russian dictator after Zelensky did not agree to his demands to stop strikes on oil infrastructure.
Ukraine’s success at targeting the industry in Russia has caused a crisis for Putin, but the oil-rich nation does still have surplus diesel.
The agreement will see almost two million tons of Russian supplies imported to the US.
In the immediate aftermath of the Trump-Putin call, the Kremlin staged a new strike on sleeping Ukrainian civilians in Zaporizhzhia killing seven including at least three children, all girls, with ten wounded and 16 ‘missing’.
It brings the total to almost 90 civilians killed by Russia in three days.
The diesel pact between Trump and Putin stunned Kyiv, with the Ukrainian leader accusing the US president of ‘weakness’ by caving in to Putin.
Mr Burnham and Mr Zelensky (pictured in New York last month) are expected to meet face to face in the coming days
Trump earlier announced a deal with Putin, which will see almost two million tons of Russian oil be imported to the US, as the president seeks to shore up his ratings amid rising fuel costs
Ukraine hit a key oil hub hours after Mr Trump blindsided Kyiv by agreeing to lift sanctions on Russian oil
But Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House last night: ‘I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.
‘He could have made many deals, and for some reason, he never does.’
Referring to Mr Zelensky continuing strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, Mr Trump said: ‘He better damn well stop.’
He also stated the Russian and Ukrainian conflict started ‘due to incompetence’ on Mr Zelensky’s part.
‘That’s a war that should have never started. And I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,’ Mr Trump said.
The announcement came despite Mr Trump signed a sweeping Russia sanctions law just last month aimed at clamping down on the oil and gas revenues that fuel Putin’s war against Ukraine.
A Downing Street spokesperson said last night: ‘The Prime Minister spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine today.
‘The Prime Minister began by recognising the last 24 hours had been difficult for Ukraine and reiterated his complete solidarity.
‘The two leaders next discussed the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia: the Prime Minister made it clear that the UK would continue to strengthen its sanctions on Russia and to take further action to constrain the Russian war machine, building on new UK designations against Russian targets announced this week.
‘They underlined that Russia should agree to an immediate energy ceasefire, ending its brutal strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and its attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. This would immediately release more energy and food supplies into the global market.
‘The two leaders agreed to meet in person in the coming days to continue their discussion.’