Zelenskyy warns Trump’s diesel deal could open door to Russia sanctions relief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday criticised US President Donald Trump's deal to import Russian diesel, warning that the agreement would channel more money to Moscow to fund its war against Ukraine.He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having no genuine interest in peace talks, calling Moscow's approach a “parody” of negotiations.Speaking on the sidelines of a European Union summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy said the diesel deal risked paving the way for further sanctions relief for Russia, while urging European allies to step up their support for Kyiv.“And now we can see how cash will start flowing back into Russia through the diesel deal,” Zelenskyy told reporters.“This diesel deal will never be enough to offset the impact of the Strait of Hormuz on global markets. But it will put more money straight into Putin’s pocket to fund this war,” he added, according to Reuters.Zelenskyy also warned that the agreement could lead to further economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow, including potential deals involving Russian gas and the lifting of sanctions.“In my view, we cannot accept these diesel deals, these agreements, because gas deals will follow.
I am absolutely certain of this. Sanctions will be lifted on other things as well after gas,” he said.“It will all come down to the banking system, individuals and the chemical industry,” he added.
Zelenskyy accuses Putin of not wanting peace
The Ukrainian president said Moscow was not interested in negotiations to end the war, which has continued despite US efforts to broker an agreement.“Putin does not want peace talks at the moment, in any form,” Zelenskyy said.
“He's playing with words, claiming they respond... Quite simply, it looks like a parody of a genuine desire to end the war.”The dispute over Russian diesel has added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, with Trump blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for pushing up energy prices.Trump recently announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities. However, Kyiv subsequently resumed attacks on Russian refineries, saying Moscow had continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.Trump described Ukraine's renewed attacks as a “disgrace” in an interview with Newsmax.Russia has also publicly acknowledged a Ukrainian drone strike on the Ryazan oil refinery this week and broadcast footage of the aftermath on state television. The move marked a departure from Moscow's usual practice of referring to such targets as industrial enterprises.Russia sought to highlight the attack, which took place days after Trump announced the proposed energy truce.
Ukraine said it had paused such strikes for three days but resumed them because Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure continued.
Starshield disruptions remain a concern
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine was still experiencing disruptions to the Starshield satellite system, the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink service, which is used for battlefield communications and operations involving drones.He said the system's performance had improved but had not been fully restored, adding that the disruption put civilians at risk.Also read: Starlink disruption exposes Ukraine's reliance on US tech, Europe admits 'can't replace capability'A US official has denied that Trump ordered a deliberate slowdown of Starshield, while the US president has said intelligence-sharing with Ukraine continued.The disruption has raised concerns about Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian attacks, particularly as its forces rely on satellite communications for battlefield operations and countering drones.EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that Europe could not immediately replace the system's capabilities.“Starlink is really necessary for Ukraine. And unfortunately, in short term, Europe can't replace this capability,” she said.
Kyiv seeks greater European support
The EU summit brought Zelenskyy together with European leaders as Ukraine faces continued Russian missile and drone attacks and uncertainty over the future of US military and intelligence support.On arriving at the summit, Zelenskyy referred to his European counterparts as “real leaders”.
He also called for substantial financial assistance to sustain Ukraine's defence and resilience.“The war will cost €155 billion next year. And we need at least €70 billion more from you – for defence, for weapons, and for our resilience,” Zelenskyy said in his address to EU leaders, which he later posted on X.“This is a realistic amount. And I ask you to find this support. It will help us hold Russia back,” he added.Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told Reuters that the EU would probably need to provide Ukraine with a new loan to help cover its budget shortfall next year.“Last winter was already hell, this one will be once again like hell,” Michal said.Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said the consequences of the diesel agreement could extend beyond energy trade, warning against any arrangement that might result in the return of frozen Russian assets to Moscow.His remarks followed a report by the Financial Times that Washington had proposed transferring some frozen Russian assets held by European countries to a vehicle overseen by the US to help revive stalled peace negotiations.Zelenskyy said Ukraine could not risk an agreement that would see those assets returned to Russia.