Zelensky Criticises Trump-Putin Diesel Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he was not told the details of US President Donald Trump’s diesel agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin while Ukrainian officials were meeting US representatives in Miami about ending the war. He called the move unfair and questioned what Washington had secured from Moscow in return.

What Was Announced

Trump said Russia would supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes thereafter. He presented the agreement as a way to increase supply and ease fuel prices.

The US Treasury issued General License 135, temporarily authorising specified transactions involving Russian-origin diesel, including its importation into the United States, through April 7, 2027. The licence is a limited authorisation; it does not mean all US sanctions on Russia have been lifted.

Ukraine Says It Was Left Out

Zelenskyy told Axios that Ukrainian representatives were discussing peace proposals with US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner when Trump announced the agreement. He said his team knew Trump planned to speak with Putin but had not been given details of the diesel arrangement. Zelenskyy called it a possible “birthday present” for Putin.

That is Zelenskyy’s account of the talks. The available reporting does not independently establish that the Miami meeting was deliberately arranged to conceal the agreement.

Disagreement Over Energy Attacks

Zelenskyy said he could support easing energy-related restrictions if it were tied to a reciprocal pause in attacks on energy infrastructure. He said Ukraine was willing to stop striking Russian refineries if Russia also stopped targeting Ukrainian energy facilities. No such truce was announced with the diesel deal.newsukraine.rbc+1

A US official later told Axios that Trump decided to proceed after Ukraine ignored repeated US requests to stop attacking Russian refineries. That is the official’s explanation for the administration’s decision, rather than an independently established account of all the negotiations.

The dispute is over whether Ukraine should halt those strikes unilaterally or whether restraint should apply to both sides.

Price Impact Remains Uncertain

Trump’s stated goal is to add diesel supply and reduce fuel costs. Whether the shipments lead to lower prices will depend on actual deliveries, refinery conditions and broader market supply and demand. The announced quantities alone do not guarantee lower prices for consumers.

For Kyiv, the concern is that additional Russian energy sales could bring Moscow revenue while the war continues. The extent of any financial benefit depends on the amounts delivered, prices and payment arrangements, along with the restrictions that remain in effect.

What to Watch

The key questions are whether the shipments proceed, whether Washington changes or extends the temporary license, and whether the US, Ukraine and Russia discuss a reciprocal pause in energy attacks.

The agreement has exposed a sharp disagreement over how to balance fuel-price concerns with pressure on Russia. Its economic and diplomatic effects will become clearer as deliveries and negotiations develop.

Source: axios