Axios reports Trump urged Ukraine to replace President Zelensky with someone
willing to strike a deal with Russia to end the war. Trump announced a deal with
Russia to lift related sanctions and permit Russian diesel exports to the U.S.
and global energy markets. U.S. officials told Axios Trump pursued the deal
after Zelensky allegedly ignored about six U.S. requests to stop attacks on
Russian refineries. Zelensky said he was surprised, calling the move "weak" and
a "birthday gift" to Putin; Trump said Zelensky had multiple chances to make a
deal and that his actions harmed U.S. farmers. Axios characterizes this as the
most serious U.S.-Ukraine rift since the Feb 2025 White House meeting.