Zelenskyy Criticises Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal, Warns It Could Prolong War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised a US move easing sanctions on Russian diesel, warning that the decision could help Moscow sustain its war against Ukraine without a clear commitment to de-escalation.

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticised a new US deal that will allow Russian diesel to reach world markets, saying that loosening sanctions without a firm commitment from Moscow to cut back the fighting will only help Russia keep the war going. The deal was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday, October 9.

Trump described the agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a big deal and thanked him for agreeing to supply large amounts of diesel. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said Russia would send more than 300,000 tons straight away, followed by 500,000 tons in November and a further one million tons soon after that. Another three million tons could follow, depending on the condition of Russia’s refineries. Together, that is more than four million tons.

On October 9, the US Treasury Department issued a temporary general licence authorising certain transactions involving Russian-origin diesel, including its sale, delivery and importation. According to the Associated Press, the relief applies to deliveries of Russian diesel loaded onto tankers as of that date and runs until April 7, 2027. The measure represents a temporary easing of sanctions, not a blanket removal of all restrictions on Russian energy exports.

The move comes at a time when diesel prices have climbed across the world. Ukraine has been hitting Russian refineries with drone and missile strikes, which led Moscow to ban diesel exports. Trump is also under growing political pressure to bring down fuel costs before the midterm elections in November.

Zelenskyy was quick to respond. In a social media post, he said that gifts to Putin would not bring peace and that Russia would answer the diesel deal with more attacks and deceit. He argued that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products amounts to investing in a war that should be ended and not prolonged. In a phone interview with the news site Axios, he called the decision unfair and dishonest, and described any easing of sanctions without a lasting de-escalation agreement as a clear sign of weakness.

He also said Ukraine will not target Russian oil refineries if Russia stops destroying Ukraine’s energy facilities. Hours before the licence was issued, he had urged visiting US lawmakers to make sure existing sanctions laws are enforced.

The Kremlin had signalled earlier what it wanted. In late September, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian diesel could flood global markets, but only if it could reach buyers without sanctions or restrictions.

Why it matters: The deal pits the goal of lowering fuel prices against the aim of keeping pressure on Russia. Because India imports most of its crude oil and is sensitive to global fuel prices, changes in the supply of Russian diesel could also be felt here.