Trump Calls for Zelensky Replacement as Ukraine Talks Open in Miami
U.S. president attacks Ukrainian leader after Moscow diesel deal; Kyiv delegation cuts short Miami negotiations.
KEY POINTS
- Ukrainian delegation met Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner in Miami on Oct. 9 for two-day talks.
- Trump publicly called for Zelensky's replacement, citing refusal to stop refinery strikes.
- Trump and Putin spoke by phone on Oct. 9; U.S. agreed to Russian diesel exports.
- Ukrainian team left Miami early, missing Saturday session, after U.S. pressure.
- Russian strikes killed over 70 civilians in Ukraine in two days before the meeting.
Ukrainian and European officials met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami on Friday to discuss new proposals for ending the war with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the two-day session would include his chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov, intelligence chief Rustem Umerov, and lawmaker David Arakhamia.
Hours after the talks began, Donald Trump told reporters Ukraine needs a new leader capable of striking a deal, accusing Zelensky of refusing to halt strikes on Russian refineries despite U.S. requests. Trump said the attacks threaten global diesel supplies and American farmers.
“Open Starlink for Ukraine. You did open it when you were responding to Iran ... give it to us, help us defend our skies and dominate there. And then Putin will sit down at the negotiating table.”
Zelensky had earlier urged Washington to expand Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite service to target Russian missile launchers, saying Putin would only negotiate if Kyiv could defend its skies. He also blamed the U.S. for inaction as civilian casualties mounted.
Russian strikes killed more than 70 people across Ukraine in the preceding two days, including 30 in a bus attack in Kramatorsk and 22 in a Chernihiv apartment strike. The Kremlin denies targeting civilians.
Following a Trump-Putin phone call on Friday, the Ukrainian delegation ended its Miami visit early, skipping a second round of talks scheduled for Saturday. A Ukrainian source told the Financial Times the early departure came at a firm U.S. request.
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