Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Donald Trump of handing Vladimir Putin a birthday present by sealing a deal to import Russian diesel, saying the arrangement will not deliver peace. Ukraine’s president warned that enabling Moscow to sell oil products amounts to investing in a war that should be stopped rather than stretched out.
Trump announced on Friday that he had held what he described as an extremely successful phone call with the Russian leader, under which Russia would immediately ship more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets, another 500,000 tonnes in November and a further 1 million tonnes shortly afterwards.
– I have just finished an extremely successful conversation with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, during which it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and world market, another 500,000 tonnes in November, and then promptly another 1 million tonnes – Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that, depending on the technical condition of Russian diesel refineries, Moscow would provide another 3 million tonnes of the fuel within a short period, bringing the total agreed volume to 4.8 million tonnes. For scale, the US Energy Information Administration put diesel consumption in the American transport sector at roughly 2.94 million barrels per day — about 400,000 tonnes — in 2025.
A present for Putin, Zelensky says
Zelensky responded to the announcement by pointing to the timing: Putin turned 74 on Wednesday. In an interview with Axios, the Ukrainian president called the arrangement between Trump and Putin unjust and unfair.
– You know, it looks like a birthday gift for Putin. It looks absolutely awful – Zelensky said.
– Gifts for Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilised world – the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.
– Allowing Russia to sell oil products is an investment in a war that must end, not be prolonged. Real de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis is needed – he stressed.
In the same statement Zelensky argued that Russia would repay the opening of diesel exports with „further terror and perfidy”.
– Any easing of sanctions on Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is obvious weakness. It works in Russia’s favour — allowing it to kill more people, wage longer wars, lose respect for America and cause even greater losses and damage to the world – he added.
Miami talks dismissed as a smokescreen
The deal was made public while Ukrainian negotiators were holding talks in Miami with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, envoys of the US president. In his statement, Zelensky accused Washington of treating those negotiations as a smokescreen.
– That is unfair and not how partners should treat each other. It looks like a weak decision by strong partners – he stressed.
Axios reported that Trump’s move followed Ukraine’s failure to heed American requests to stop strikes on Russian refineries. Washington wanted a unilateral halt to the attacks and did not consider Russian strikes to be equivalent to Ukrainian shelling of refineries.
Asked about the criticism from Ukraine’s president, who suggested the deal with Putin revealed weakness, Trump answered with a single word.
– Okay – Trump replied.
Questioned again later, he said the United States is a strong partner, but added that the world needs oil.
– We need oil for the world. It is diesel, which is what the world needs. So we are very happy – Trump said.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
