Zelenskyy blasts Trump's 'weak decision' to obtain diesel from Russia in 'gift to Putin'

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hit out at the "weak decision" by Donald Trump to strike a deal to obtain diesel from Russia, describing it as a "gift to Putin".

The US president said Moscow will provide "the American and global marketplace" with nearly five million US tons of diesel after a phone call with the Russian leader.

"That is massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and I want to thank President Putin to be honest with you," Mr Trump told reporters after the announcement.

It marks a stunning reversal of American pressure on Russia over its war with Ukraine and an attempt to address high fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections.

Mr Zelenskyy called it "a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners," according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington.

Mr Trump announced the deal as his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were meeting with Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss a proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Mr Zelenskyy said he believed his team was "simply being used as a smokescreen", adding: "That is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other."

The Ukrainian president called America's diesel agreement with Russia a "gift to Putin", adding that the Russian leader was "relying on attempts to strike backroom deals to secure some form of pressure relief" for his country.

"Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement... is an obvious weakness," Mr Zelenskyy said.

"It plays into Russia's hands - allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world."

Announcing the agreement in post on his Truth Social account, Mr Trump said Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and a million tons "immediately thereafter."

Russia will deliver an additional three million tons "within a short period of time" after that, he wrote.

A US ton equates to 907kg, while a metric tonne weighs 1,000kg.

Mr Putin said it would have a "positive impact on the entire global economy" in a statement issued by the Kremlin.

His phone call with the US president - initially expected to focus on the suspected plague death in Siberia - also covered the war in Iran and prospects for resolving the "Ukrainian crisis", the statement added.

Responding to the announcement, the UK pledged to "maintain pressure on Russia" through the "toughest sanctions regime" it had ever imposed.

"We will continue working closely with international partners to ensure Ukraine has the military and financial support it needs to defend itself," a UK government spokesperson said.

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R‌ussia's deputy prime minister Alexander ‌Novak said his country was ready to start supplying diesel to the US and other countries in October, with exports set to increase in November and December.

The US Treasury Department said it would immediately issue a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to the global market following Mr Trump's announcement.

The US has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022, when then-president Joe Biden banned them following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Fuel prices have risen dramatically since the start of the US-Iran war and remain high as America prepares to head to the polls for the midterm elections on 3 November.

The national average for a gallon of diesel in the US was $6.23 (£4.71) on Friday after hitting a record $6.52 (£4.92) on 22 September.

Mr Trump has recently pressured G7 allies to release emergency reserves and expanded access to tax-exempt red-dyed diesel, which is typically reserved for farm equipment.

Last month, he signed a sanctions law targeted at Russia's energy economy and other areas which fuel its war against Ukraine.

It applies to Russian officials, banks, and a shadow fleet of tankers.

The measures also ban all new US investment in Russia and the handling of sovereign debt.

(c) Sky News 2026: Zelenskyy blasts Trump's 'weak decision' to obtain diesel from Russia in 'gift to Putin'