Musk backs Trump call to replace Ukraine's Zelenskiy as diesel row deepens
Elon Musk backed Donald Trump's call for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, deepening a row over Russian diesel after Trump said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries. Zelenskiy responded that Trump has no power to remove him from office, while Ukraine's foreign minister said the government supported the president. The dispute has left Kyiv more isolated from Washington, which has threatened to cut satellite intelligence and is easing sanctions on Moscow, as Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Why it matters: The row illustrates the briefing's geoeconomics theme, as diesel supplies, sanctions relief and Starlink access are used as instruments of leverage in the Ukraine war.