Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has lashed out at US President Donald Trump over his decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports, accusing Washington of striking a deal with Moscow behind Kiev’s back.
Zelensky described the move as “definitely unfair,” “definitely not partner-like” and “a weak decision by strong partners,” effectively portraying it as a stab in the back just as Ukrainian negotiators and Kiev’s European backers were meeting American officials to discuss a potential peace settlement in Miami.
In a voice memo sent to Western journalists on Friday, Zelensky suggested Trump had used Ukrainian negotiators as a “smokescreen” while pursuing a separate agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“You know, it looks like a happy birthday present for Putin. It looks absolutely terrible,” he told Axios in a separate phone interview, referring to the Russian leader’s 74th birthday earlier this week.
Q: Zelenskyy said you're weak because of the Putin deal. He just criticized you TRUMP: Who said that? Q: Zelenskyy. He said you're weak TRUMP: Okay. *walks away* https://t.co/niHd2ynoVP
Trump initially ignored journalists’ questions about Zelensky calling him “weak” but later brushed aside the criticism, defending the agreement as necessary to ease soaring fuel prices.
“We need oil for the world and this is diesel, which is what we need. So we’re very happy to get it,” the US president said.
Reporter: President Zelensky said that this is a weak move by a strong partner that will only prolong the war. Trump: We need oil for the world and this is diesel, which is what we need. So we're very happy to get it. https://t.co/8clgGPbJvv
Earlier on Friday, Trump announced that following a “successful discussion” with Putin, Moscow had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to American and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November, another million tons shortly thereafter, and potentially 3 million additional tons depending on refinery capacity.
The US Treasury subsequently issued a six-month sanctions waiver allowing Russian diesel exports, as Washington seeks to contain a global fuel shortage exacerbated by the US-Israeli war on Iran and Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Trump has repeatedly blamed Kiev – and Zelensky personally – for worsening the global fuel crisis, accusing Ukraine of deliberately knocking out Russian refining capacity and driving up prices for American consumers.
During a visit to Ireland last month, Trump directly demanded that Zelensky halt the strikes. “Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia… Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting the world,” he said.
Trump doubled down earlier this week, arguing that the main driver of soaring US fuel prices was no longer the disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, but Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has similarly linked the strikes to a broader global “energy shock.”
Despite Washington’s repeated warnings, Zelensky pledged last weekend to intensify Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities.
The fuel shortage has become an increasingly pressing domestic issue for Trump ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. US diesel prices surged to record highs above $6.50 per gallon in September, with prices in California exceeding $8 in some areas.
Putin confirmed following Friday’s conversation that Russia was prepared to supply oil and petroleum products to American and global markets, expressing confidence that the move would have a positive effect on the world economy.
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