"Investment in war": Zelenskyi reacts to Trump's decision to allow sales of Russian fuel
Photo source: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has said that easing sanctions on Russia without long-term agreements on de-escalation would only help Moscow continue its war. He made the statement in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to allow sales of Russian petroleum products. Trump described the arrangement with the Kremlin as beneficial to the United States and said he wanted to thank Vladimir Putin for it.
On the evening of October 9, the Ukrainian president published a statement on his Telegram channel regarding the decision to allow sales of Russian petroleum products. He stressed that easing sanctions without clear and lasting agreements to reduce tensions would not contribute to peace.
"Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious sign of weakness. It plays into Russia's hands, allowing it to kill more people, wage war longer, show even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world," Zelenskyi said.
The Ukrainian president also said that allowing Moscow to sell petroleum products effectively amounts to investing in the war, which should be brought to an end rather than prolonged. According to Zelenskyi, de-escalation with Russia must take place on reciprocal terms.
Zelenskyi recalled that following the EU's recent decision to lift sanctions on two Russian oligarchs, Russian forces intensified their attacks on Ukraine and continued terrorizing civilians.
In just one week, Russia attacked a residential building in Pryluky, buses in Kramatorsk, Kyiv's energy infrastructure, and civilian targets in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and other cities. The attacks killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds.
In the Ukrainian president's view, Russia's leadership is resorting to terror because it cannot achieve its objectives on the battlefield.
"This year, Russia is at its weakest on the battlefield compared with any other period of the war. That is precisely why Putin is relying on terror. That is why he is relying on attempts to reach behind-the-scenes agreements to ease pressure on Russia in one way or another, in order to buy more time and create more opportunities to continue the war," the president said.
At the same time, Zelenskyi said Ukraine was ready to take steps toward de-escalation if Russia also upheld its commitments. According to the president, the United States is aware of Kyiv's position.
The president also explained that Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries and other oil facilities are a response to years of Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"Ukraine will not burn down Russian oil refineries if Russia does not destroy our energy infrastructure. We are proposing exactly this kind of agreement to the United States, and we believe the United States has enough leverage to secure such an arrangement," Zelenskyi stressed.
What Trump said about the agreement with Russia
Donald Trump spoke positively about the arrangement with Moscow, which he said was reached following a phone call with Vladimir Putin. The US president said it would increase fuel supplies and help bring prices down.
"The oil deal with Russia is a big deal. That's huge volumes of oil coming into our country. Frankly, I want to thank President Putin," Trump told reporters on the White House lawn.
When journalists reminded him that Volodymyr Zelenskyi had called the decision a sign of weakness, Trump asked who had said that before replying, "Okay."
Journalists also asked whether the arrangement could prolong the war in Ukraine. In response, the US president said the United States was a strong partner and that the global market needed oil.
"We are a strong partner. We need oil for the world. So we're very happy to get diesel," he said.
How much diesel fuel does Russia plan to supply?
According to Trump, the arrangement involves a temporary easing of US sanctions to allow Russia to supply petroleum products to the global market. The US president announced this on Truth Social, describing his phone call with Putin as "extremely successful."
Trump said Russia was expected to immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to the US and global markets. Another 500,000 tonnes, he said, would be delivered during November, followed by a further one million tonnes.
In addition, the U.S. president announced plans for another three million tonnes of diesel fuel to be supplied later. He linked the timing of these deliveries to the condition of Russian oil refineries that produce the fuel.
Trump claims that diesel prices will fall rapidly thanks to US control over the Strait of Hormuz and the arrangements concerning Russian energy resources.
It is worth noting that this spring, the US Department of the Treasury had already issued a license allowing the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that had already been loaded onto vessels. US officials had previously assured the public that they would not extend the easing of restrictions.
