Zelenskyy says letting Russia sell diesel to US is 'investment in war'
- On Friday, President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply diesel to U.S. and global markets, with the Treasury Department issuing General License 135 authorizing transactions through April 7, 2027.
- Surging diesel prices, averaging $6.28 per gallon, prompted the administration to seek fuel relief ahead of midterm elections amid Strait of Hormuz energy disruptions from U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the deal as "an investment in a war that must be ended," arguing it funds Moscow while Ukrainian negotiators met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Florida.
- The deal bypasses the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, signed three weeks ago to choke off Russian energy revenues, creating tension with Congress's legislative intent to pressure Moscow.
- Energy analysts warn the initial 300,000-ton shipment is modest compared to U.S. daily consumption, while Zelenskyy cautions that easing sanctions without de-escalation guarantees risks encouraging further Russian aggression.
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568 Articles
Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal Tests Sanctions and GOP Election Hopes
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s Russian diesel deal has exposed a contradiction in his sanctions policy: after pressuring India and European allies to stop buying Russian oil to deprive Moscow of war revenue, he is opening the American market to Russian fuel, arguing that lower prices for farmers and truckers must take priority. The decision […]
Trump’s Zelensky attack, Russia diesel deal draw criticism in U.S. and abroad
Several Republican lawmakers objected to the deal and expressed support for Ukraine's president in his fight with Russia. U.S. allies also called him and underscored their backing for him.
The agreement reached on Friday 9 October between Trump and Putin authorizing the delivery of Russian diesel does not surprise the banks of the Dnieper. Although the American president says, the Ukrainians seem determined to continue hitting the refineries, and send the ball back to Putin, who comes out great winner of this sequence.
Kiev feels betrayed because the US is buying fuel in Russia – and thus filling Putin's war chest. It is by no means certain that trade is lowering energy prices.
The Washington decision is an economic relief for Moscow under full budgetary pressure, and could weaken negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
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