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Ukraine’s foreign minister and international allies voiced support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday after US President Donald Trump called for him to be replaced, following a dispute between the two leaders over a diesel deal with Russia.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X that Zelenskyy retains the backing of ordinary Ukrainians and that the decision over his leadership rests with them alone.
“He has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide,” Sybiga wrote.
He added that foreign criticism of the Ukrainian leader had the opposite of its intended effect, saying, “Statements from abroad only confirm that he is doing his job well. He deserves support.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelenskyy by phone on Saturday and pledged continued British backing, according to a readout released by Burnham’s Downing Street office.
Burnham acknowledged that the previous day had been a difficult one for Kyiv and reiterated his full support for the Ukrainian president, the readout said.
The call came after a clash between Trump and Zelenskyy over a proposed diesel deal involving Russia.
Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick added his voice to the show of solidarity in a post on X, asserting that Zelenskyy has “the overwhelming support” of both the US Congress and the American public, in addition to backing at home in Ukraine.
Fitzpatrick placed blame for the war squarely on Moscow, writing that Russia “illegally invaded Ukraine, a sovereign and freedom-loving nation,” and that the Kremlin is responsible for the resulting loss of life and destruction.
Addressing Zelenskyy directly, Fitzpatrick wrote that Congress and the American people “stand 100% behind you,” adding, “We have your back, and we will stand with you until Ukrainian victory is achieved.”
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The exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy touched on a disagreement over a diesel arrangement involving Russia, though the specifics of Saturday’s clash were not detailed by the sources cited.
The friction follows weeks of US pressure on Kyiv over its strikes on Russian oil refineries, which Trump has repeatedly linked to rising global diesel prices and has urged Zelenskyy to scale back.
Ukraine has continued to target Russian energy infrastructure as part of its war effort since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and the issue has periodically strained relations between Washington and Kyiv even as US lawmakers from both parties have continued to express support for Ukraine’s defense.
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