Trump Cuts Russian Diesel Deal; Zelensky Fumes — SkimNews
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- Trump announced Russia will supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, 500,000 in November, and 1 million after that, with a possible additional 3 million tonnes pending refinery conditions damaged by Ukrainian strikes.
- US Treasury issued a temporary licence suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7 — an about-face from legislation Trump recently signed authorizing new US sanctions on nations importing Russian energy.
- Zelensky called the deal 'a gift to Putin' amounting to 'an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged,' and warned Russia would repay the fuel with 'further terror.'
- Tim Armitage of Quilter Cheviot called Trump's volumes 'relatively small' — the first tranche equates to roughly 2.25 million barrels against US daily consumption of 3.8 million barrels — labeling it 'a slightly desperate move' ahead of the midterms.
- Russia's diesel production has fallen nearly 30% due to Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, which Trump has separately blamed for rising US fuel prices.
- Average US diesel stands at $6.28 per gallon, down from a record $6.53 in late September; Brent crude remains above $103 a barrel versus roughly $73 before the Iran war began in February.
Why it matters: Trump is banking a Russian diesel lifeline can ease pump prices before the midterms, but the first tranche is just 2.25 million barrels against 3.8 million in daily US consumption — while the deal reverses Congress's own sanctions framework and hands wartime revenue to Moscow, fueling Zelensky's 'gift to Putin' charge.
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