Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly denounced the recent agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the supply of Russian diesel fuel. This announcement coincided with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting with Ukrainian negotiators in Miami, alongside diplomats from Germany, France, the UK, the EU, and NATO to discuss new strategies for ending the ongoing war.
Zelensky stated that at no point during the discussions did US representatives indicate the possibility of a deal with Russia concerning diesel fuel shipments. Just an hour before Trump’s announcement, Ukrainian negotiators in Florida informed Zelensky that Trump intended to speak with Putin and that a statement regarding potential US sanctions against Russia might soon follow, though they lacked further details.
According to reports, Zelensky expressed feelings of frustration and betrayal while commenting on Trump’s unilateral decision to lift sanctions on Russia. He described the situation as “unfair and dishonest,” stating, “It appears to be a birthday gift for Putin. It looks terrible… It is truly unfair because we have been striving to build our relations as best as we can. It seems they took this opportunity to meet with us while simultaneously calling Putin to strike a deal with him.”
The Ukrainian president emphasized that he would support easing sanctions on Russian energy resources only if such actions were part of a broader agreement to end attacks on energy facilities in both Ukraine and Russia during winter. However, he noted that Trump would only announce such a breakthrough if Putin agreed to it.
“What does [Trump] get? More diesel fuel? For whom? More Russian diesel for Americans? This indicates a weakness of peace,” Zelensky remarked. He further compared the current agreement to last year’s summit in Anchorage between Trump and Putin, which ended with the American president conceding to many of Russia’s demands regarding the war in Ukraine without gaining anything in return. Zelensky described the situation as “Alaska number two.”
Despite his anger, Zelensky did not claim that Washington could no longer act as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. He stated, “This is not easy. We need Americans. We need Americans to try to stop this war.” However, he also expressed doubts that rewarding Moscow without visible concessions would complicate future diplomatic efforts.
Context
- On the evening of October 9, Trump announced the agreement for Russian diesel supplies to the US and the global market following a conversation with Putin. Shortly thereafter, the US Treasury permitted transactions involving Russian diesel fuel, including imports, which will remain in effect until April 7, 2027.
- In response, Russia announced the lifting of its ban on diesel exports, promising to supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the US market in October, with increased deliveries planned for November and December as refineries resume operations.
- Zelensky labeled the US decision as an “investment in the war,” asserting that easing sanctions without a clear and long-term agreement for de-escalation reflects obvious weakness. He indicated that Ukraine is willing to halt strikes on Russian refineries if Russia stops damaging Ukrainian energy infrastructure and proposed that the US facilitate such an agreement. He criticized the use of the Ukrainian delegation engaged in talks with the American side in Florida as a “shield.”
