A former NATO commander is warning that a diesel agreement between the US and Russia could inadvertently fund Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
What happened
Retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme allied commander Europe, expressed concerns that the deal could provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with a new source of revenue to continue his attacks on Ukraine. The agreement, announced by President Donald Trump, involves the release of large quantities of diesel to the US and global markets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also cast doubt on the idea of a ceasefire, stating that Ukraine had not been informed of a finalized agreement and accusing Putin of repeatedly rejecting peace proposals. Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces had carried out over 200 strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the past week, resulting in significant casualties.
Breedlove argued that Russia's actions are aimed at targeting Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure, while Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy facilities are a strategic effort to disrupt the revenue sustaining Putin's war. He predicted that the US would pressure Zelenskyy to suspend these attacks, despite their importance to Ukraine's war effort.
