Trump lifts Russian diesel sanctions as Zelensky and Kallas condemn the move

Sanctions lifted on Russian diesel

Donald Trump said on Friday that he had spoken with Vladimir Putin and that Russia would supply diesel to global markets, while his administration lifted sanctions on Russian fuel that had been designed to deprive Moscow of revenue for the war. ANSA reported the volumes Trump announced as 300,000 tonnes of diesel first, then 500,000 tonnes in November and 1,000,000 tonnes immediately afterwards. Trump framed the move as a way to lower fuel prices, and France 24 reported that his party faces dim prospects in next month's midterm elections, partly over soaring US fuel prices. Bloomberg analysts cited by ANSA wrote that the deal would not solve market problems caused by the war in the Middle East and could at most have a "cooling" effect on prices. They added that the announced volumes were a modest increase, since the United States alone consumes 3.7 million barrels of diesel a day, and that Russia may be unable to export fuel in material quantities after repeated Ukrainian attacks on its infrastructure.

Talks in Miami

On the same Friday, negotiators for the United States, Ukraine and Europe held six hours of talks in Miami, aiming to agree a unified proposal to end the war in Ukraine. A person familiar with the talks said the goal is to reach agreement in the coming weeks so the proposal can be presented to Russia in an effort to seek a breakthrough before winter. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner took part, alongside delegations from Ukraine and representatives from Europe and NATO. The discussions covered a post-war package with security guarantees from the US and Europe, a post-war economic plan, and a pathway to European Union accession for Kyiv. On territory, the delegations discussed "some ideas", which the person declined to elaborate on, while Ukraine has been adamant that Russia cede land it has seized and Trump has said both sides will need to compromise. After his call with Trump, Putin said an immediate resumption of peace talks was unlikely, citing Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow.

Reactions in Kyiv, Brussels and Moscow

Zelensky called the decision a "weak decision" when he spoke to reporters on Friday, and in a statement he said his negotiating team appeared to have been used as cover for the deal. Reuters reported that the deal was also criticized by US lawmakers. In a long post on X, Zelensky argued that the measure would prolong the war.

Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will pay for the diesel with more terror and perfidy. Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must end.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Saturday that lifting sanctions on Russian diesel would only help fuel the Kremlin's war, and she said Russian attacks had killed more than 80 Ukrainian civilians in two days. EU foreign ministers plan to approve on Monday the broadest package of sanctions listings against Russia's war machine since the war began.

This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't.

In Moscow, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's special envoy and economic negotiator, welcomed the agreement in a post on X.

The agreement demonstrates the power of economic cooperation between Russia and the US, as well as its benefits for people and the world. Cooperation will prevail.

Strikes on Zaporizhzhia

Early on Saturday, a Russian glide bomb attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia killed 20 people, including three children, according to Ukraine's state rescue service. France 24 reported that Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least 21 people, including four children. An AFP correspondent at the scene saw rescuers pulling people from the rubble, and rescuer Daniil Pishkin told AFP that he saw two people rescued from the wreckage but "unfortunately there was a little girl who died". Zelensky responded in a post on X that Russia had dropped five glide bombs on residential buildings in the city.

Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia.

Trump answers Zelensky

Asked about the criticism on Saturday, Trump told reporters that Zelensky had disobeyed his orders not to strike Russian refineries, and he said the strikes risk worsening global fuel shortages caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump said of the strikes, "He better damn well stop", and he said Ukraine should get a new president. Trump also said Ukraine had lost more than 30% of its territory and that more than 2 million people had been killed in the war.

I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal, because he could have made many deals that, for some reason, he never does.

The Miami talks are aimed at a proposal that could be presented to Russia in the coming weeks, while the EU sanctions vote is due on Monday and the US midterm elections are set for 3 November.