Centre for Contemporary China and the World at Hong Kong University
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Trump's Russia diesel deal draws bipartisan Senate backlash and European criticism
On October 9, US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel fuel to US and global markets, followed two days later by an "energy ceasefire" covering only strikes on oil refineries. Trump also publicly pressed Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities and urged Kyiv to choose a new leader. A bipartisan group of 12 US senators demanded the deal's cancellation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called it a "very risky decision," and Moscow, shortly after the announcement, confirmed Putin would not currently negotiate with Ukraine. Russia continued striking Ukraine after the deal.