'Time for Ukraine to get a new president' - Trump

US President Donald Trump has said it is "time for Ukraine to get a new president," one day after announcing a deal to buy diesel from Moscow.

Mr Trump also suggested that if he had been US president in 2022, "that war would have never started. There was no reason that that war with Ukraine and Russia started. It started due to incompetence".

He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has "lost 30% of your country and you've had over a million people go between the two of them, over two million people killed".

"That’s a war that should have never started. And I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president," he added.

The US president has also called on Ukraine to stop hitting Russian oil refineries.

Mr Trump announced the deal to buy more than one million tonnes of diesel from Russia yesterday, as rising fuel prices heaped political pressure on him ahead of next month's mid-term elections in the US.

Britain and Germany have pledged to continue maintaining pressure on Russia through imposing sanctions.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in a call with Volodymyr Zelensky said he recognised the past day had been "difficult for Ukraine" and the two talked about the importance of keeping up pressure on Russia.

They agreed to meet in person in the coming days to continue talks.

A British government spokesperson said: "We will continue working closely with international partners to ensure Ukraine has the military and financial support it needs to defend itself," they said.

They added: "We will also maintain pressure on Russia through the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed by the UK, increasing the cost of Putin's aggression and supporting efforts to secure a just and lasting peace."

Mr Trump's deal will see Russia supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by an additional 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes "immediately thereafter".

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said the announcement would mean "Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be coming down, in record numbers, and fast".

While no figure has been announced for how much the US will pay for the fuel, the deal will provide a much needed cash injection for Russia's economy as it seeks to continue funding its war in Ukraine.

The deal brought condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said easing sanctions on Moscow "without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia" was "an obvious weakness".

Mr Zelensky said: "It plays into Russia's hands - allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world."

He added: "Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilised world. Russia will 'repay' the diesel with further terror and perfidy. Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged."

The UK Government spokesperson said: "Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated it is serious about peace, but Russia has repeatedly rejected full and partial ceasefires while continuing attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy.

"Russia could end this war today. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes and to working with partners to bring about a durable peace."

Germany meanwhile said it would continue to push for new EU sanctions against Russia despite Moscow's agreement with Washington.

"The German government sticks to its measures sanctioning Russia and is working jointly with its European partners on new sanctions," government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement.

Major backer Germany's "support for Ukraine in its struggle to defend itself remains unfailing", he added.

"Diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution continue."

Moscow has been hit with waves of sanctions by the United States and partners since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremin said Russia "reaffirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products to the American and world markets."

The deal came weeks before key US elections where Mr Trump's Republican Party risks losing its grip on Congress as voters express frustration over the mounting cost of living.

Diesel prices, which are often a big driver of inflation, are up 70% since the US and Israel launched the war with Iran on 28 February.

The wars in Iran and Ukraine have triggered a severe global fuel supply crunch, pushing average US diesel prices to $6.28 (€5.60) a gallon on Thursday, according to the AAA motorist group.

Prices have stayed high despite two recent moves by Mr Trump to boost supplies of the fuel: pressuring allies to release emergency reserves and expanding access to tax-exempt red-dyed diesel, which is normally used for farm equipment.