U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy 3 million tonnes of Russian diesel, a move that has drawn immediate criticism from Ukrainian officials and U.S. lawmakers. The agreement, which allows Russian diesel exports to American and global markets, comes days after Kyiv warned it would fund Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Trump's announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deal, calling it a 'gift' to Russia's war machine. Zelenskyy said the deal would allow Russia to 'kill more, wage war for longer' and 'have even less respect for America.' The deal also came as Russian strikes killed at least 20 people in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, including three children.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties have criticized the deal, arguing it undermines recent sanctions against Russia and could provide Moscow with billions in revenue. The move is seen as a direct contradiction to a 2022 law that banned Russian energy imports, with some lawmakers questioning whether the deal would actually lower fuel prices for Americans. The EU has also warned that the deal would provide Moscow with more revenues to wage war.