United Kingdom backs Zelenskyy following Trump calls for new Ukrainian leadership

United States President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to hold elections and replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of missing opportunities to end the war with Russia. United Kingdom Defence Secretary Wes Streeting responded on Sunday, stating that the British government stands behind Zelenskyy and that the Ukrainian people alone should choose their leader, as reported by The Guardian and Al Jazeera. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Trump also criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, which he blamed for driving up fuel prices in the United States. According to Al Jazeera, the criticism follows an agreement between Washington and Moscow for the United States to purchase Russian diesel fuel. [1][2][4][5][6]

In an interview on the BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, Streeting suggested that Trump is facing domestic political pressure over rising fuel costs ahead of the upcoming United States midterm elections, according to The Guardian and HuffPost UK. Streeting added that maintaining Western unity against Russia remains the primary focus for the United Kingdom. [1][11]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, the United States recently agreed to purchase over 300,000 tonnes of diesel from Russia. Zelenskyy has served as president of Ukraine since 2019, while Streeting was appointed as the British defence secretary in 2026. [13][14][15]