Zelensky in response to Trump: Only Ukrainians choose their president

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed in an interview broadcast on ABC television on Sunday that the Ukrainians themselves should choose their officials, in response to his American counterpart Donald Trump's call for a change in the president in Kiev.

Zelensky said, "With all due respect to President Trump, our society, our people, have the right to choose this or that official," reiterating his call for a ceasefire with Russia for a period of "60 days," which, in his view, will allow elections to be held.

He added that it is easy to blame Ukraine for the rise in fuel prices, "while everyone in the world realizes that prices are rising because of the war in the Middle East."

Earlier in the day, Zelensky stated that Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops its strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

For his part, German Foreign Minister Johann Vadiful, on Sunday, reiterated Berlin's support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following Trump's call for his dismissal, and urged Vadiful to put more pressure on Russia to resume peace talks.

Vadivul said that Germany remains supportive of Ukraine and its government, and "fully supports the president as he performs his difficult tasks."

These statements, which he made during a leadership meeting of the conservative Christian Democratic Union led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, come in the wake of Trump's call yesterday, Saturday, to replace Zelensky, which confirms the growing dispute between Berlin and Washington.

Trump called on Ukraine to replace Zelensky and strongly criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. Last week, Trump announced a deal to import diesel from Russia.

Germany, the largest European donor to Ukraine, said yesterday that it would maintain the sanctions imposed on Russia despite Trump's announcement that his administration would temporarily lift US sanctions on Russian fuel.

Vadivul, who met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month, said that “consistency and clarity” were necessary to support Ukraine and push Moscow to negotiate.

Vadivhol added, "We do not need to ease the pressure, but rather we need to put more pressure on Putin to make him ready to negotiate. This is what the current moment requires, and this is what the government is defending."

A Downing Street spokesman said that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelensky yesterday and informed him that London would continue to tighten its sanctions on Russia.