Zelensky slams Trump-Putin diesel deal as ‘weakness’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday condemned a diesel supply agreement that U.S. President Donald Trump announced after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky warned that easing sanctions on Moscow without a de-escalation deal "plays into Russia's hands". He told Washington that "allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged".aa+2

A Ukrainian official told Axios the announcement shocked Kyiv. Zelensky answered within minutes with a statement of nearly 500 words on X. It came just hours after he hosted a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation in Kyiv.mediaite+1

The deal

Trump wrote on Truth Social that a "highly successful discussion" with Putin had produced an agreement for Russia to "immediately supply" more than 300,000 tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets. He said another 500,000 tons would follow in November and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter." A further 3 million tons could come "within a short period," depending on the condition of Russia's refineries. To make the arrangement work, the Treasury Department issued a temporary license that allows Russian diesel back onto world markets. Ukraine's UNN news agency reported that the license is valid until April 7. Trump presented the deal as relief for Americans facing higher fuel prices and called lower costs for farmers, ranchers and truckers his "Greatest Priority". Diesel prices have climbed during the Iran war.unn+3

Kyiv's counteroffer

"Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness," Zelensky wrote. He said the relief would let Russia "kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America". He argued that Putin is turning to "backroom deals" because Russia is struggling to reach its goals on the battlefield.aa+2

Zelensky said Ukraine is ready for reciprocal de-escalation. He described Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries as a response to Russia's long campaign against Ukraine's energy sector. "Ukraine will not burn Russian oil refining facilities if Russia does not destroy our energy infrastructure," he said, adding that Ukraine is proposing exactly that agreement to the United States. He pointed to Russian attacks this week, including a missile strike in Pryluky, aerial bombs dropped on city buses in Kramatorsk, and strikes on energy facilities in Kyiv. He said dozens of people had been killed.unn

Sanctions backdrop

The dispute comes less than a month after Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The law targets Moscow's energy revenues and its "shadow fleet" of tankers, and in some cases allows tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil. Zelensky called for sanctions under that law to be enforced. UNN also reported that a Ukrainian delegation had arrived in Miami on Friday for talks with Trump's envoys.mediaite+1

"Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world," Zelensky wrote. "Russia will 'repay' the diesel with further terror and perfidy".aa