Donald Trump was on another collision course with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European allies Friday after a stunning deal to buy Russian diesel, ending years of U.S. and Western pressure on the Kremlin to end its four-and-a-half-year war with Ukraine.
Zelensky reacted with fury to Trump’s announcement of the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it “absolutely terrible” and “neither fair nor honest.”
In a move likely to create a new crisis with Washington’s NATO allies, Trump announced the deal with Putin on his Truth Social network, saying it was essential to reduce U.S. fuel prices, which have soared following his decision to go to war with Iran.
“I have just concluded a very productive discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which it was agreed that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the U.S. and global market, an additional 500,000 tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 tons immediately thereafter,” Trump wrote.
“Depending on the state of its diesel refineries, Russia will then, in a short period of time, deliver 3,000,000 tons of diesel fuel.”
He added: “Diesel prices for Americans and, indeed, the world, will FALL, IN RECORD NUMBER AND FAST! Lower prices for Americans, especially for our big farmers, ranchers and truckers, are my highest priority.”
Fuel prices have soared due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically sensitive chokepoint that was the passage for 20% of the world’s oil supplies before the war. While costs have risen for motorists – a gallon of fuel now costs an average of $4.20 – it is the surge in the price of diesel, which last month reached a record high of $6.52, that has inflicted the most political damage on Trump and Republicans in the run-up to the November midterms.
Diesel is the primary fuel in the supply chain, and its rising costs are reflected in consumer prices and also hurt U.S. farmers, who must operate machines.
The deal was criticized by Democrats, who said it went against a law Trump signed last month authorizing a wide range of sanctions against Russian banks, officials and oil companies, and ordering him to impose high tariffs on the top five importers of oil or natural gas from Russia. The law gives Trump broad discretion to make exceptions to its provisions.
“This is what failure looks like. President Trump’s failure to deliver on his promises to lower costs for Americans. The failure to protect America from its adversaries,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement, joined by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Banking Committee. “The failure to comply with the law and the bipartisan will of Congress, which only weeks ago passed legislation to cut off revenues from the Russian war machine and limit purchases of Russian oil and gas.”
Some Republicans also criticized the deal.
“Supporting Putin’s war economy is morally wrong because he uses the money to bomb cities,” Rep. Don Bacon, Republican of Nebraska, wrote on X. “The president’s policies toward Russia and Ukraine are a failure. We need moral clarity, not moral ambiguity.”
Perhaps the fiercest response came from Zelensky, who told Axios that it “sounds like a happy birthday present for Putin. It looks absolutely terrible.” The Russian leader turned 74 earlier this week.
In a lengthy social media post, Zelenskyy, who has a difficult relationship with Trump, said the deal amounted to “an investment in a war that must end, not prolong.” Russia was likely to repay him with “more terror and perfidy”.
“This plays into Russia’s hands, allowing it to kill more, wage war longer, have even less respect for America and inflict even greater loss and damage on the world,” he said.
Trump announced the oil deal as his envoys, Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, met with Ukrainian and European officials in Miami to discuss proposals to end the war.
Zelensky, in a separate statement released Friday by Ukraine’s embassy in Washington, said Ukrainian negotiators had been “used as a smokescreen for the deal,” which he called “a weak decision by strong partners.”
“It’s definitely not fair. It’s definitely not the way partners should treat each other,” he said.
Trump recently criticized Ukraine for attacking Russian diesel refineries, calling on Zelensky to choose alternative targets. The Ukrainian leader rejected the request unless Russia agreed to a mutual de-escalation plan that would prevent Moscow from attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The deal also follows growing tensions between Russia and Washington’s NATO allies in Europe, amid speculation that Moscow may be preparing military action to test the alliance’s resolve.
The latest developments could lead to a further deterioration of relations between Zelensky and the Trump administration. He was infamously ambushed by Trump and Vice President JD Vance last year during an explosive meeting at the White House when the president told him, “You don’t hold the cards.”
But Trump has reportedly since become disillusioned with Putin, expressing disappointment at his failure to reach a deal.
Trump’s push to reach a deal with Putin that would lower fuel costs comes despite Russia’s support for Iran in its war against the United States. Russia has reportedly provided Iran with satellite intelligence and aerial surveillance data detailing the location of US forces, ships, aircraft and military bases. It also supplied drone components and ammunition.
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