Trump Strikes Backroom Deal with Putin to Lift Diesel Sanctions, Ignoring Ukrainian Pleas
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President Donald Trump has chosen to prioritize corporate profits and fossil fuel interests over global justice, temporarily suspending sanctions on Russian diesel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the move, warning it will embolden Russia and prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again demonstrated his disregard for international solidarity and human rights by announcing an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to temporarily suspend Treasury sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 2027. This backroom deal, which benefits powerful oil interests, allows for an initial release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and a further million tonnes thereafter, with up to three million tonnes more depending on refinery conditions.
While the Treasury’s suspension applies only to diesel, other Russian assets held in U.S. banks remain frozen—a hollow gesture in the face of this major concession. Trump justifies this capitulation by claiming that Russian diesel will lower fuel prices, ignoring the broader consequences for peace and justice.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rightfully denounced the arrangement, stating that easing sanctions on Russia directly aids Moscow’s brutal war machine and prolongs the suffering of Ukrainians. Zelensky warned that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is tantamount to investing in a war that must be ended, not extended.
Putin, emboldened by Trump’s willingness to undermine sanctions, confirmed Russia’s readiness to flood U.S. and global markets with oil and petroleum products, while a Russian envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, cynically praised the so-called cooperation as a global benefit.
This announcement comes as Americans face rising fuel prices, a crisis rooted in the war in Ukraine and the volatility of fossil fuel markets. The move starkly contradicts recent U.S. legislation imposing new sanctions on Russian oil and gas, raising serious questions about the Trump administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and standing up to authoritarian aggression.