Zelensky responds to Trump: Ukrainians alone choose their president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that only Ukrainians have the right to choose their president, responding to US President Donald Trump's call for a change in Kyiv's leadership.

Speaking in an interview aired Sunday on ABC, Zelensky stated, "It is the right of our society, our people, to choose this official or that one."

Zelensky reiterated his call for a 60-day ceasefire with Russia, saying this would allow elections to be held.

He also said blaming Ukraine for rising fuel prices is inaccurate, noting that the main reason for global price increases is the war in the Middle East.

Earlier, Zelensky announced Ukraine was ready to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stopped its strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Joachim Faedivol reaffirmed Berlin's full support for President Zelensky following Trump's call for his removal, stressing the need to increase pressure on Russia to resume peace talks.

Faedivol's remarks came during a meeting of the conservative Christian Democratic Union led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Trump had called for Ukraine to replace Zelensky and criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. He also announced last week a deal to import diesel from Russia.

Germany, the largest European donor to Ukraine, confirmed it would maintain sanctions on Russia despite Trump's announcement of a temporary lifting of US sanctions on Russian fuel.

Faedivol, who met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in New York last month, highlighted the importance of "consistency and clarity" in supporting Ukraine and pushing Moscow to negotiate.

He added that now is the time to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring him to the negotiating table.

In the same context, a Downing Street spokesperson said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Zelensky that London would continue to tighten sanctions on Russia.