Trump’s Russia Diesel Deal Covers Less Than Two Weeks of US Demand as Lawmakers Cry Foul
President Donald Trump says Russia will supply millions of tons of diesel to the US and global markets — but the deal covers less than two weeks of American demand, and a bipartisan group of senators calls it unlawful.
US President Donald Trump has announced a deal for Russia to supply millions of tons of diesel to the United States and global markets, saying the goal is to lower fuel prices [259519][258385]. The agreement reverses years of economic pressure placed on Moscow after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine [258385].
The deal covers less than two weeks of US demand, and it comes as Trump faces pressure to bring down fuel prices ahead of midterm elections [261796]. Russia's deputy prime minister said Moscow is holding talks with Washington on diesel supply contracts but gave no details on volume or timing [262048].
Trump has paired the diesel deal with demands that Ukraine stop attacking Russian oil refineries, which Kyiv targets to weaken Moscow's war economy [259519][259122]. He also said Ukraine needs a new president [259122]. Trump later claimed Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire targeting the energy sector, though Russia has not commented and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he did not know about it [260091]. Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian refineries if Russia stops hitting Ukrainian infrastructure [260091].
Zelensky condemned the diesel arrangement, saying that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is "an investment in a war that must end, not continue" and that sanctions relief will not stop the war [259139].
The deal has drawn sharp criticism from US lawmakers. A bipartisan group of senators says American imports of Russian diesel are unlawful and argues Washington must not give Russian President Vladimir Putin a "financial lifeline" [259939]. Other lawmakers are questioning whether the deal is legal and whether it complies with US rules [261844].
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide criticized the move, saying "it is an opposite signal from what we need now" and noting that Western countries have stood together to tighten sanctions on Russian oil, Moscow's most important export [259122]. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the deal led to a "very difficult few days" diplomatically [261554].
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor warned the agreement could give Moscow more money to continue its war and weaken economic sanctions [259789]. In Ukraine, many people say they feel deeply betrayed by a country they long saw as an ally and a beacon of democracy [260901].
US envoys told Ukrainian officials the diesel deal is part of an effort to bring Russia back to negotiations, according to three people familiar with the meeting [260892]. US envoys also planned to offer Moscow a pause on strikes against Russian refineries and the diesel deal, then ask for something in return [261517].