Trump Pressures Ukraine, Trump's Midterm Priorities, Saudi Arabia Airport Attacks

Steve Inskeep (0:02)

President Trump disapproves of Ukraine's attacks against Russian oil refineries.

Michel Martin (0:06)

He wants President Volodymyr Zelensky out of power. Ukrainians say that is a call for them to make.

Steve Inskeep (0:12)

I'm Steve Inskeep with Michel Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News.

The president is looking to Russia to bring down fuel prices before the midterms. He lifted sanctions on Russian diesel. Will that help the president convince voters focused on affordability?

Michel Martin (0:31)

And the main airport in Saudi Arabia's capital is still shut down after it was hit by Houthi attacks. At least 20 people have been killed in the last week, including an American citizen. Can Saudi Arabia stop the attacks without more help from its allies? Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day.

President Trump is once again telling Ukrainians to hold wartime elections and ditch their president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Steve Inskeep (0:58)

Trump blames Zelensky for not ending the war. He also blames Ukraine's long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries for rising global fuel prices.

Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel and claimed both sides have agreed to quote an energy ceasefire.

Michel Martin (1:14)

Joining us now to talk about the latest is NPR's Joanna Kokissis in Kyiv. Joanna, good morning.

Joanna Kakissis (1:18)

Good morning, Michel.

Michel Martin (1:20)

How are Ukrainians reacting to Trump's call to remove Zelensky?

Joanna Kakissis (1:23)

Well, Michel, every time Trump does this, it seems to make Zelensky more popular here.

Just having conversations with Ukrainians in Kyiv yesterday and also reading comments online, one theme clearly emerged, that Ukrainians say, you know, Zelensky is far from ideal, but outsiders don't get to decide whether we should hold elections or who we should get rid of. I spoke with Oleksandr Mineshko. He's from Zelensky's party and he leads the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament. And he says this idea actually comes from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Oleksandr Mineshko (1:55)

Putin understands that if he manages to remove somehow Zelensky, maybe with the help of Trump, it will weaken seriously Ukraine during the war. It's a very dangerous idea. And the key question is whether President Trump will align himself with Putin in his attempt to ruin Ukraine and to pressure us into capitulation.

Michel Martin (2:17)

Do other Ukrainians feel this way?

Joanna Kakissis (2:19)

Yeah, Zelensky's term ended in 2024 But public opinion polls here show most Ukrainians do not want to hold elections in the middle of the war. They do criticize Zelensky's governing style, and they worry he may have some shady people in his circle.

But I saw this poll recently that shows about half of Ukrainians do not want him to run for a second term, but only when elections are held after the war ends. Most Ukrainians realize that holding elections now is dangerous, there's no ceasefire, and Russia is Barbing Ukrainian cities multiple times a day.

Michel Martin (2:53)

President Trump claims that both Ukraine and Russia have agreed to an energy ceasefire. Is that actually happening?

Joanna Kakissis (3:00)

Well, you know, Zelensky said on Sunday that he did not know anything about the ceasefire.

This would involve both sides halting attacks on energy facilities. And in his evening video address Sunday night, Zelensky said he welcomes such a ceasefire.

Oleksandr Mineshko (3:15)

Ukraine proposed a lot of de-escalation crops. Putin. Nasegoriv od der.

Joanna Kakissis (3:20)

saying, let's make it happen. Ukraine supports real paths to ending this war and is ready to stop striking Russian energy infrastructure if Russia reciprocates in Ukraine. But then he pointed out that even after Trump declared the ceasefire, Russia attacked a power plant in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. And I should note that Trump has announced an energy ceasefire before and nothing came of that.

Michel Martin (3:44)

So where does Ukraine go from here? Is there any hope of ending this war?

Joanna Kakissis (3:50)

Well, Ukraine says it's hitting Russian oil refineries to weaken the Kremlin's ability to wage war. Madeshko, the Ukrainian lawmaker, says his country has the right to fight back. And he says Trump is using Ukraine as a scapegoat, blaming the Ukrainians for rising fuel prices instead of the US war on Iran. And he says Trump's envoys in peace negotiations, Jared Kushner and Steve Woodcoff, they don't care about Ukraine.

Oleksandr Mineshko (4:14)

They don't care much about values or lives of people in Ukraine. They want to make a quick deal at the expense of Ukraine. And how you can make a quick deal? Only by pressuring Ukraine into surrender.

Joanna Kakissis (4:29)

And Michele says Ukraine will learn to survive even if the US does abandon it.