On October 10, 2026, it was reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had struck a deal with Russia regarding the supply of diesel fuel. This decision came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ignored at least six requests from Washington to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries (NPPs).
Reasons for the Deal
The agreement was made amid a growing energy crisis in Russia, which arose due to Ukrainian strikes on NPPs. These attacks not only affected the energy situation in Russia but also increased fuel prices in the U.S. Trump, according to Axios, decided to lift sanctions on Russian diesel to alleviate pressure on the American economy.
Zelensky's Reaction
Zelensky expressed his outrage over the deal, stating that it is "unfair" and unjustifiably beneficial for Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian president proposed to halt strikes on NPPs in exchange for stopping Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants, but Washington does not consider these terms equivalent. He emphasized that he is willing to support the easing of American sanctions only under mutual concessions.
U.S. Threats
According to information obtained from American officials, Trump and his team, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, hinted during negotiations in Miami at a possible cessation of intelligence sharing with Ukraine if Kyiv does not stop attacks on Russian NPPs. This raised concerns in Ukrainian circles, as access to American intelligence is critically important for Ukraine's security.