Trump announces Russian diesel purchase, sparking criticism from Ukraine and US lawmakers
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
President Donald Trump said a deal to import Russian diesel will lower fuel prices, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several US officials condemned the agreement as aiding Russia’s war effort.
President Donald Trump announced on his social platform that the United States has reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the immediate supply of more than 300,000 tons of diesel, with additional deliveries planned through the end of the year. Trump said the deal would bring down diesel prices for Americans, farmers, ranchers and truckers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the arrangement "absolutely terrible" and said it amounted to "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged," adding that it would help Russia continue its military campaign.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the deal as contravening recent sanctions legislation aimed at cutting off revenue for Russia’s war machine. Some Republicans, such as Representative Don Bacon, also expressed opposition, arguing that supporting Russia’s economy is morally wrong.
The announcement comes amid rising global fuel costs linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and domestic political pressure ahead of upcoming elections. Critics say the purchase could undermine the sanctions framework and strengthen Russia’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine.