Trump's Russian diesel deal draws Kyiv and EU criticism

· Energy · United States · Russia

President Donald Trump's agreement to buy Russian diesel and temporarily lift US sanctions on Russian fuel drew sharp criticism from Ukraine and European officials, who said it would help Moscow fund its war. Germany said it would maintain its own sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin said a Friday call between Putin and Trump was 'very substantive and friendly', and that Putin relayed an Iran war proposal to Trump; a Kremlin aide said neither leader wanted to hang up first. Analysts said the deal is unlikely to lower US fuel prices significantly, as the November shipment amounts to roughly one day of American consumption.

Why it matters：US sanctions relief for Russian fuel could undermine Western pressure on Moscow and reshape global energy flows amid the Ukraine war.

Key points

  • Germany said it will keep its own sanctions on Russia despite the US move.
  • The November diesel shipment equals about one day of US consumption, analysts said.
  • The Kremlin said the Putin-Trump call was 'very substantive and friendly'.

Sources (original reporting)

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