‘Let’s Sign a Diesel Deal’: Zelensky Challenges Trump

President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed signing a Ukrainian “diesel deal” with US President Donald Trump, arguing that Kyiv – not Moscow – can help determine whether Russian refineries operate and fuel shipments leave the country.

Speaking by video link at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, Oct. 12, Zelensky questioned the stated economic justification for Washington’s agreement to allow Russian diesel onto US and global markets.

“If there are such deals, then why doesn’t America conclude a ‘diesel deal’ with Ukraine?” Zelensky said in remarks later published on his Telegram channel.

“Let Ukraine offer a ‘diesel deal.’ We influence whether these ships sail or not, whether these refineries work or not.”

On Friday, Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing Russian diesel exports despite Western sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine offers reciprocal energy arrangement

Zelensky said Ukraine would suspend strikes against Russia’s oil and diesel infrastructure if Washington could guarantee that Moscow would stop attacking Ukraine’s electricity system.

“Electricity is important to us,” he said. “If we can be guaranteed protection for our electrical system, we will not respond against Russian diesel infrastructure.”

Ukraine’s power grid is connected to the European network, Zelensky noted, meaning that an undamaged Ukrainian energy system could also supply cheaper electricity to European countries experiencing shortages.

Other Topics of Interest

Accuracy Problems: Russia Developing New Kinzhal Missile Warhead

Ukrainian intelligence says Russia is working on a fragmentation warhead for the Kinzhal while shifting production resources toward Iskander-M missiles.

“So yes, let’s sign an appropriate ‘diesel deal’ with the president of the United States,” he said.

Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate “energy ceasefire,” but provided no terms, timetable or monitoring mechanism.

Zelensky said Kyiv learned about the supposed agreement from the media and had not received confirmation that Moscow had accepted it.

Ukraine refrained from striking Russian refineries overnight, according to Zelensky, while Russia continued attacking Ukrainian power facilities, including a thermal power plant in Kharkiv.

Kyiv remains prepared to observe an energy ceasefire if Russia does the same and accepts enforceable guarantees, Zelensky said.

Zelensky disputes effect on diesel prices

Zelensky argued that the volumes Russia could put on the market would be too small to meaningfully change global prices.

He estimated that Russia could export between 300,000 and 500,000 metric tons of diesel per month, compared with global monthly consumption of approximately 120 million tons.

“What impact could that have? I think none,” he said.

In a separate part of his remarks, Zelensky estimated Russia’s overall influence on the global diesel market at 2.2%. He did not specify the source or methodology behind that figure.

Energy analysts have similarly questioned whether Trump’s announced Russian supplies would meaningfully reduce prices. The initial shipment of 300,000 tons represents only a small fraction of global consumption and would take time to reach buyers.

Zelensky said the current energy crisis originated primarily in the Middle East rather than from Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries.

“If Putin is not given opportunities, then his influence in other areas will also be negligible,” he said.

Russian blockade risks global food crisis

Zelensky also warned that international attention to diesel prices was overshadowing a potentially larger crisis caused by Russia’s disruption of Black Sea shipping.

According to Zelensky, countries could begin experiencing the effects of an agricultural crisis within one or two months as Ukrainian grain exports remain blocked.

“There will not be enough food for countries on the African continent, some Asian countries and the Middle East,” he said. “Russia is now blocking the sea.”

Disrupted Black Sea shipping has already pushed wheat prices to three-year highs, reduced exports and forced major buyers to seek more expensive supplies elsewhere.

Russia has also rejected proposals to revive a Black Sea grain arrangement that would restore large-scale Ukrainian agricultural exports.

“We do not see any signals from Russia that they want the war to end. We do not see even elementary steps toward de-escalation,” Zelensky said.

He said the US was less directly exposed to this threat and was therefore concentrating primarily on energy prices.

“This is another challenge. This is hunger, and it could affect many countries,” he said. “We can stop many different crises before they begin.”