What happened
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has criticized the US decision to strike a diesel deal with Russia, stating that making agreements with dictators can have severe consequences. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump, involves Russia supplying millions of tonnes of diesel to the world market in an effort to bring down fuel prices.
According to Trump, Russia has agreed to immediately bring 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the world market, with more to follow, under a temporary US license. The move is seen as a reversal of years of Western pressure on the Kremlin.
Michal expressed concerns that the agreement could undermine the Western world's efforts to limit the flow of money from energy carriers to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also suggested that Estonia and the European Council should discuss contributing more to Ukraine to help them target Russia's oil refineries.
Meanwhile, Estonian MP Marko Mihkelson believes that the upcoming midterm elections in the US may have prompted Trump's decision to strike the diesel deal with Russia. Mihkelson warned that the move could encourage Russia to continue its war in Ukraine and undermine the US's strategic interests.
