Zelensky Slams US‑Russia Diesel Deal, Warns It Fuels Further Attacks

On Saturday President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X to vent his disappointment over a newly‑announced diesel arrangement between the United States and Russia. He argued that letting Moscow ship fuel abroad is nothing short of a tacit invitation for more missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy sites.

“When you let Russia sell petroleum products, you send the message that the attacks can continue,” Zelensky wrote, adding that each additional billion dollars earned will simply be poured back into weapons, "Shahed" loitering munitions and even hired mercenaries.

The Ukrainian leader highlighted the latest wave of Russian jet‑powered Shahed drones that have pounded power plants across the country, noting that Kyiv has already shot down several ballistic missiles in response.

He urged the United States, Europe and other allies to send a “strong signal” that the war must end, not be prolonged by lucrative energy deals. “We need clear, decisive action that limits Russia’s ability to fund terror,” he said, thanking those who continue to stand with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump lauded the agreement as a “big deal,” thanking President Vladimir Putin for agreeing to ship “massive amounts” of diesel to the United States. In a press briefing, Trump claimed the United States would receive over 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, with further shipments slated for the coming months.

Putin, for his part, portrayed the deal as a boon for the global economy. In a phone call with Trump, the Russian president said supplying oil and diesel to U.S. markets would “have a positive impact on the entire global economy,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia’s foreign‑policy chief Yuri Ushakov echoed the sentiment, stating that Kyiv’s attempts to halt Russian advances by striking deep inside Russia have “no prospect of success,” and that Russian forces still hold the initiative on the front line.

Ushakov also mentioned that discussions about resuming trilateral talks with the United States were postponed after Ukrainian drone attacks hit Moscow and voting stations on the day of the Duma elections.

The contrasting messages underline how a single energy transaction can become a flashpoint in a war that already sees billions of dollars and countless lives at stake.