Trump hails Russia deal to supply diesel as “big deal” amid Zelenskyy’s criticism

WASHINGTON DC: Amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s criticism of easing sanctions on Moscow without a de-escalation agreement, US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) hailed the diesel deal with Russia as a “big deal”, thanking Russian President Vladimir Putin for agreeing to supply “massive amounts” of diesel to the United States.

“I think you heard about the oil deal with Russia. That is a big deal. That is massive amounts of oil coming into our country. I want to thank President Putin. We have massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and it is diesel, which is what we want,” Trump told reporters outside the White House before heading to Syracuse, New York, for the midterm election campaign.

His remarks come following his announcement that Russia would immediately supply over 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to American and global markets.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Russia would supply another 500,000 tonnes during November and 1 million tonnes immediately thereafter, followed by a further 3 million tonnes within a short period, depending on the condition of its diesel refineries. He said the proposed supplies, along with what he described as US control of the Strait of Hormuz, would bring down diesel prices for Americans and the wider global market.

“Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!” Trump said.