Trump Hands Putin a Diesel Deal and a 60-Day Sanctions Pass While Telling Zelensky to Surrender

US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended several sanctions on Russia and waived tariffs on Russian diesel exports for 60 days, while pressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to restart Russian gas trade and accept peace terms with Moscow [264961][265810][266052]. The moves have deepened a rift between Washington and Kyiv, with Zelensky accusing Trump of withholding support and pressuring Ukraine to capitulate to Russia [266276].

Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving many sanctions, restrictions and duties on Russia that Congress had passed, telling lawmakers the decision was in the national interest [264187]. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move is a 60-day pause to analyze the sanctions' impact [265810]. Trump also delayed a major new sanctions package, saying he does not want to "drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table" [265585].

The sanctions relief came in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets [263938]. Before the diesel waiver was announced, Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had already urged Kyiv to consider restarting Russian gas trade — a push that came behind the scenes while public peace talks continued, despite Europe spending years working to shut down that trade [266052].

Zelensky met Witkoff and Kushner on Sunday amid rising tensions after Trump accused Kyiv of resisting peace with Russia [265537]. Trump has publicly criticized Zelensky and suggested Ukraine needs a new leader [264187]. He has also expressed frustration over high energy costs, blaming them partly on Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries; Zelensky angered Trump further by ordering Ukraine's forces to restart those strikes [263938][265028].

European leaders rallied around Zelensky on Friday as Kyiv's ties with Washington worsened and fears grew that Washington is increasingly siding with Russia [263938]. Europe is now shifting strategy: leaders of the bloc are preparing to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, bypassing Zelensky's previous role as the main go-between with the Trump administration [265841].

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss Ukraine, possibly on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, according to people familiar with the discussions [265573]. No date or venue has been confirmed, and it was not immediately clear whether Washington or Beijing had responded [265573].

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor said Trump should direct pressure at Putin, not at Ukraine [266276]. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Texas Democrat, said Trump's recent actions involving Russia and Ukraine require greater oversight from Congress, warning that questions about Ukraine's access to US military technology could weaken allies' trust in American defense products [265447].