Trump's Russian Diesel Deal Draws Furious Response From Zelenskyy
Trump announces agreement to purchase Russian diesel, drawing sharp condemnation from Ukraine's Zelenskyy and alarming NATO allies.
President Donald Trump announced a deal Friday to purchase Russian diesel fuel, a move he framed as necessary to drive down domestic fuel prices but one that immediately sparked a fierce backlash from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and threatened to deepen tensions with European allies.
Zelenskyy condemned the agreement in unsparing terms, calling it "absolutely terrible" and "not fair and not honest." The announcement puts Trump on a fresh collision course with Kyiv and NATO partners who have spent years working to isolate Moscow economically in response to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.
Read more UK AI Chief Warns Against Dependence on Foreign Technology →
The deal represents a striking departure from the coordinated western strategy of using energy sanctions and trade restrictions to pressure the Kremlin. For years, the United States and its allies have worked to curb European dependence on Russian energy — not expand it — as part of a broader effort to cut off revenue streams funding the war effort.
The agreement's political fallout could prove significant. European governments that have made costly transitions away from Russian energy since the 2022 invasion now face the prospect of their principal military and diplomatic backer moving in the opposite direction. The announcement risks fracturing the western unity that has underpinned support for Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Analysts are likely to scrutinize whether a US diesel purchasing arrangement would meaningfully affect retail fuel prices domestically, and what terms govern the agreement with Moscow. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
