Trump says Volodymyr Zelenskyy should get someone else to negotiate Ukraine peace

On October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should be replaced by another negotiator to end the war with Russia. The statement comes amidst rising friction between Washington and Kyiv, triggered by degraded Starlink communications, disrupted U.S. intelligence sharing, and Trump's decisions to waive Russian sanctions and allow Russian diesel sales. Trump also expressed open willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping without Zelenskyy present.

Trump's criticism of Zelenskyy's leadership in peace talks

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump stated on October 19, 2026, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should have settled the war with Russia a long time ago
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump previously called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 10, 2026
• ▪On October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should find someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine to end the war with Russia
• ▪Speaking on October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump referenced a February 2025 Oval Office meeting, asserting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would have reached a better deal to end the war with Russia had he listened to Trump

Exchange of criticism between Trump and Zelenskyy

• ▪On October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's criticism of Trump's decision to waive sanctions against Russia, asserting that Zelenskyy does not know what he is talking about
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in October 2026 that U.S. President Donald Trump is on the wrong side of history regarding his handling of the war in Ukraine

Proposed meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on October 19, 2026, that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Putin reportedly proposed, could take place without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy present
• ▪On October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month during the ASEAN meeting in China to discuss ending the war in Ukraine

Trump's statements on U.S. aid and Russia's actions

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump asserted on October 19, 2026, that Russia has performed fine regarding Ukraine and has not been doing much military activity
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump stated on October 19, 2026, that the United States has given substantial assistance to Ukraine while receiving nothing in return

Disruption to Ukraine's Starlink service

• ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied on October 19, 2026, that the United States caused the disruption to Ukraine's Starlink satellite service that Zelenskyy had reported
• ▪SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated during the week of October 12, 2026, that the U.S. government and President Donald Trump are ultimately responsible for any Starlink service slowdowns in Ukraine
• ▪On October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he did not know who ordered the interruption to Ukraine's Starlink service that Zelenskyy had reported, but expressed a desire to find out
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on October 19, 2026, that SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield satellite services in Ukraine were recently degraded without explanation from the United States

Dispute over U.S. intelligence sharing

• ▪U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 19, 2026, to be careful about making untrue statements regarding U.S. intelligence sharing and Starlink disruptions
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on October 19, 2026, that disruptions to U.S. intelligence sharing left Ukraine without advance warning of Russian strikes
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump asserted on October 19, 2026, that the United States continues to share intelligence with Ukraine

Zelenskyy's outreach to U.S. lawmakers

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented U.S. lawmakers on October 19, 2026, with photos of a Russian strike in Kharkiv that killed six people, including a mother and child, following U.S. sanctions relief granted by President Trump
• ▪On October 19, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a call with bipartisan U.S. lawmakers from the House of Representatives and Senate