Trump Announces Deal for Russian Diesel as Zelensky Calls It a 'Gift to Putin'

President Donald Trump has announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the United States, a move that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply condemned as "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged."

Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately "to the American and global marketplace," followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another million tonnes after that. In a post on Truth Social, Trump added that a further three million tonnes of Russian diesel could be delivered "within a short period," dependent on the condition of Russian refineries, which have been targeted by Ukrainian attacks.

The U.S. Treasury is suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7 as part of the agreement, though other Russian assets held in American banks remain frozen, according to people familiar with the decision.

In a blistering response, Zelensky wrote on social media that Russia would repay the diesel with "further terror," and called on the United States to hold a "strong conversation with Russia. A strong one, not a weak one." He said Ukraine counts on America's "fair support for our defence of life, for our defence of people in Ukraine."

Analysts have questioned whether Russia can actually deliver the promised quantities and whether the move will meaningfully lower gasoline prices for American drivers. Tim Armitage, an investment strategist at Quilter Cheviot, noted that the first tranche equates to roughly 2.25 million barrels, while daily U.S. consumption stands at about 3.8 million barrels.

"It won't make a material difference to pump prices in the US," Armitage told the BBC. "Granted, there are two more releases to come, but it does appear to be a slightly desperate move by President Trump to try to lower inflation ahead of the midterms."

Putin later confirmed Russia's willingness to supply both the U.S. and global markets with oil and petroleum products, though his statement did not specify amounts. Russia had previously introduced a ban on diesel exports earlier this year.

Reporting by BBC News. Read the original report: Trump announces deal for Russian diesel as Zelensky calls it a 'gift to Putin'.