Donald Trump said Ukraine needs a new president who can agree to end the war - a demand that Trump says Zelensky should accept a deal to end the fighting - as he called for a halt to strikes on Russian refineries, a day after announcing a diesel deal with Moscow, while Russian attacks continued across Ukraine on Saturday.

Trump's demands to Zelensky

Speaking to reporters, Trump said Ukraine needs a different leader at the helm - one able to close an agreement with Moscow. "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal," he said, referring to Zelensky.

The president also took aim at Ukraine's campaign against Russian oil infrastructure. Trump told reporters at the White House that Zelensky had to stop hitting Russian oil refineries. "He better damn well stop," he said.

Timing after the diesel announcement

The remarks came one day after Trump said he had struck a deal allowing Russia to supply diesel to global markets. On Friday, he announced that he had secured Russia's agreement for a major diesel release as he eased sanctions on Moscow, framing the move as a way to lower energy costs ahead of midterm elections.

Zelensky's response and the talks

Zelensky reacted by linking the continued Russian attacks directly to the American announcement, saying fresh strikes on Ukraine are Russia's "thanks" for the US diesel deal.

Behind the scenes, talks between the two sides continued:

• •A Ukrainian delegation that held Miami talks on ending the war was heading home Saturday, according to presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn, who told reporters: "The groups are already on their way home."
• •US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow within the next two weeks, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing a source.

Strikes as the remarks land

The exchange played out against a day of heavy Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

• •Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia on Saturday killed at least 15 people, including three children, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.
• •Ukraine's National Police said Russia hit residential neighbourhoods in the southeastern city with five guided aerial bombs early Saturday.
• •Kyiv suffered large-scale power outages due to the strikes, and stabilisation schedules were not in effect, energy firm DTEK said on Telegram. Ukraine's energy ministry said parts of Kyiv and the surrounding region were left without power after a Russian attack.
• •Russia's Defence Ministry said its drones struck a data-processing centre in Kyiv used by Ukraine's armed forces for intelligence, and a cargo ship carrying military supplies to Odesa. Reuters could not immediately verify those reports.

The Miami delegation is heading home, and US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow within two weeks, TASS reported citing a source.

For more on the strikes that killed 15 people in Zaporizhzhia, see our earlier coverage.