Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin that will allow Russia to release diesel into global markets, according to BBC News, sparking immediate criticism from Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The US president said Moscow had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, with a further 500,000 tonnes to follow in November and an additional million tonnes after that. Trump claimed the move would bring down diesel prices for Americans and the world “in record numbers, and fast”, writing on Truth Social.
Following the announcement, the US Treasury formally issued a temporary licence permitting Russian diesel to enter the market. Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy for Putin, welcomed the agreement on social media, stating that cooperation between Russia and the US on diesel and energy would benefit the world.
Sharp Ukrainian response
Zelensky reacted strongly to the deal, warning that “gifts to Putin will not work for peace” and that Russia would repay the diesel with “further terror”. According to BBC News, the Ukrainian president wrote on social media that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products amounted to “an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged”.
The agreement comes as diesel prices in the United States have doubled since the war with Iran began in February, creating political pressure on Republicans ahead of midterm elections. The average diesel price currently stands at $6.28 per gallon, according to the AAA, down slightly from the record high of $6.53 recorded at the end of September.
Russian fuel shortages
Russia has experienced two waves of severe fuel shortages this year following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. The International Energy Agency estimates that Russian diesel production has fallen by nearly 30 per cent as a result.
Trump has previously expressed displeasure over these attacks, blaming them for rising fuel prices. However, on Friday Zelensky defended the strikes, describing them as a response to “Russia’s years-long campaign of terror against Ukraine’s energy sector”. The Ukrainian president added that Ukraine would not set Russian oil refineries on fire if Russia stopped destroying Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
It remains unclear what impact the deal will have on fuel prices. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, remains above $103 per barrel, compared to approximately $73 per barrel before the war with Iran began. The BBC has contacted the White House for comment on what reimbursement the US is providing Russia in return for the diesel release.
The diesel deal represents the latest effort by Trump to lower fuel prices in America. Earlier this week, he said he was considering suspending the federal tax on gasoline and announced permission for red dye diesel to be used on US highways without facing federal tax. He has also successfully pressured G7 nations into releasing 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from stockpiles to ease supply concerns.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The diesel deal could have implications for fuel costs in the United Kingdom, where pump prices have also risen sharply. While the UK does not rely heavily on Russian diesel imports, any increase in global supply could put downward pressure on wholesale prices. Motorists and businesses dependent on diesel vehicles, including many Polish-run logistics and delivery companies in the UK, would benefit from lower costs. However, the broader geopolitical ramifications – particularly the potential weakening of sanctions against Russia – may concern the large Polish community in Britain, many of whom have strong views on support for Ukraine. The deal also raises questions about the direction of Western sanctions policy and whether other countries will follow suit in easing restrictions on Russian energy exports.
