KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Friday that easing sanctions on Russia without a lasting de-escalation agreement would signal weakness, sharply criticizing a diesel supply deal announced by US President Donald Trump following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.In a statement posted on X, Zelenskyy said he had met a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress in Kyiv earlier Friday, urging Washington to strengthen sanctions against Moscow, increase pressure on Russia and maintain support for Ukraine.”And today, there was a conversation between the leaders of America and Russia. A conversation that leads to something different,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the Trump-Putin talks.The Ukrainian president accused Moscow of seeking sanctions relief to prolong the war, arguing that Russia’s intensified airstrikes against Ukraine reflected its inability to achieve its military objectives on the battlefield.He said Moscow was attempting to “strike backroom deals to secure some form of pressure relief for Russia, in order to buy more time and more opportunities for war.””Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness,” Zelenskyy said.Zelenskyy warned that allowing Russia to expand petroleum exports would provide Moscow with additional resources to sustain its military campaign.”Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will ‘repay’ the diesel with further terror and perfidy,” he said.”Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged. What is needed is real de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis,” he added.Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to take reciprocal steps toward de-escalation, saying Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities were a response to Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.Zelenskyy’s remarks followed Trump’s announcement of what he described as a “highly successful discussion” with Putin, resulting in an agreement to increase Russian diesel supplies to US and global markets.Trump said Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly afterward.He added that an additional 3 million tons could be delivered within a short period, depending on the condition of Russian diesel refineries.The proposed deliveries could total more than 4.8 million tons.Trump said the agreement would help bring down diesel prices in the United States and worldwide.Zelenskyy’s criticism highlighted the competing priorities facing Washington as it seeks to ease pressure on global energy markets while pursuing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Friday that easing sanctions on Russia without a lasting de-escalation agreement would signal weakness, sharply criticizing a diesel supply deal announced by US President Donald Trump following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.In a statement posted on X, Zelenskyy said he had met a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress in Kyiv earlier Friday, urging Washington to strengthen sanctions against Moscow, increase pressure on Russia and maintain support for Ukraine.”And today, there was a conversation between the leaders of America and Russia. A conversation that leads to something different,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the Trump-Putin talks.The Ukrainian president accused Moscow of seeking sanctions relief to prolong the war, arguing that Russia’s intensified airstrikes against Ukraine reflected its inability to achieve its military objectives on the battlefield.He said Moscow was attempting to “strike backroom deals to secure some form of pressure relief for Russia, in order to buy more time and more opportunities for war.””Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness,” Zelenskyy said.Zelenskyy warned that allowing Russia to expand petroleum exports would provide Moscow with additional resources to sustain its military campaign.”Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will ‘repay’ the diesel with further terror and perfidy,” he said.”Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged. What is needed is real de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis,” he added.Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to take reciprocal steps toward de-escalation, saying Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities were a response to Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.Zelenskyy’s remarks followed Trump’s announcement of what he described as a “highly successful discussion” with Putin, resulting in an agreement to increase Russian diesel supplies to US and global markets.Trump said Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly afterward.He added that an additional 3 million tons could be delivered within a short period, depending on the condition of Russian diesel refineries.The proposed deliveries could total more than 4.8 million tons.Trump said the agreement would help bring down diesel prices in the United States and worldwide.Zelenskyy’s criticism highlighted the competing priorities facing Washington as it seeks to ease pressure on global energy markets while pursuing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy warns easing Russia sanctions after Trump-Putin diesel deal would show 'obvious weakness'
