Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized a recent diesel deal between the US and Russia, warning that it poses significant risks.
What happened
During an interview on 'Meet the Press', Zelenskyy stated that the deal, which involves the US waiving sanctions on Russian diesel, will embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen his war efforts against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy argued that the deal will not have a significant impact on diesel prices in the US, but rather will provide a boost to Putin's regime. He also expressed concerns that the deal could lead to further discussions about Russian gas and frozen assets.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later pushed back against Zelenskyy's comments, claiming that no sanctions were lifted and that the only change was the removal of the embargo on Russian diesel. Bessent also noted that European countries are financing the Russian war machine, implying that Zelenskyy should criticize them as well.
The deal in question involves the US waiving sanctions on Russian diesel, which were imposed as part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The law requires the president to impose tariffs on goods from the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, as well as on Russian imports.
