The former prime minister says it is sickening that the US is easing sanctions on Russian fuel, as Mr Trump suggests Ukraine should get a new president and Andy Burnham reaffirms his support for Kyiv.
Boris Johnson has condemned Donald Trump’s comments on Ukraine, calling them “sickening” in a post on X on Saturday. The former prime minister was reacting after Mr Trump said at the White House that Ukraine should get “a new leader”, hours after the US president announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel. Mr Trump is also reported to have blamed Ukraine for rising fuel prices worldwide. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has since spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky to reiterate his “complete solidarity”.
Johnson’s response
Mr Johnson wrote: “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.”
He went on: “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.”
He concluded: “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.”
What Mr Trump said
Speaking at the White House on Saturday, Mr Trump suggested Mr Zelensky had not done enough to end the war. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,” he said, adding that “for some reason (Zelensky) never does”. He also said: “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
The remarks followed Mr Trump’s announcement on Friday of a deal with Mr Putin, which he said was struck in a phone call. The call was expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia. Afterwards, Mr Trump said Moscow would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by a further 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes “immediately thereafter”. A further three million tonnes would follow “within a short period of time”, he wrote.
The announcement came as rising fuel prices put political pressure on Mr Trump ahead of next month’s US midterm elections. It also followed his signing last month of a sweeping Russia sanctions law, aimed at curbing the oil and gas revenues that fund Moscow’s war. The US Treasury subsequently issued a temporary licence allowing certain Russian diesel supplies to reach the market.
Burnham and Zelensky speak
A Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Burnham spoke to Mr Zelensky on Saturday. “The Prime Minister began by recognising the last 24 hours had been difficult for Ukraine and reiterated his complete solidarity,” the spokesperson said.
According to Downing Street, the two leaders discussed the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia. Mr Burnham made clear that the UK would continue to strengthen its sanctions and take further action to “constrain the Russian war machine”, building on new UK designations announced this week.
They also underlined that Russia should agree to an immediate energy ceasefire, ending strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. Downing Street said this would immediately release more energy and food supplies onto the global market. The two leaders agreed to meet in person in the coming days.
Reaction in Kyiv and Europe
Mr Zelensky criticised the deal, saying it “plays into Russia’s hands” and would prolong the war. He has warned that easing restrictions without a lasting agreement to reduce hostilities would strengthen Russia’s ability to keep fighting.
European governments have taken a different line from Washington. Germany reaffirmed its commitment to sanctions against Russia, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that easing restrictions on Russian diesel would give Moscow additional revenue for its war effort.
Analysts have questioned whether the proposed deliveries are large enough to cut prices significantly, given the scale of the supply disruption and limits on refining capacity. Russia could gain extra export revenue without delivering the fall in prices Mr Trump wants.
Reports also indicate that US officials have warned Ukraine that continued attacks on Russian oil refineries could put intelligence-sharing at risk. Ukraine sees the strikes as a way to weaken Russia’s ability to finance its invasion.
Deadly strikes in Zaporizhzhia
The diplomatic row is unfolding alongside deadly Russian attacks. Ukrainian officials said on Saturday that Russian strikes had killed at least 17 people in the Zaporizhzhia region. Later reporting put the number killed at 21, including four children.
