Zelenskyy furious as Trump announces deal to buy Russian diesel

President says deal essential to lower US fuel prices but move set to create fresh crisis with Ukraine and Nato allies

Donald Trump was on a fresh collision course with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European allies on Friday after a stunning agreement to buy Russian diesel, upending years of US and western pressure on the Kremlin to end its four-and-a-half year war against Ukraine.

In a move likely to create a fresh crisis with Washington’s Nato allies, Trump announced the deal with Putin on his Truth Social network, saying it was essential to reduce fuel prices in the US, which have soared as a result of his decision to go to war with Iran.

“Based on the condition of their diesel refineries, Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 tons of diesel fuel.”

Fuel prices have rocketed due to Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz, a strategically sensitive choke point that was the passageway for 20% of the global oil supplies before the war. While costs have risen for motorists – with a gallon of fuel now averaging $4.20 – it is the soaring price of diesel, which last month rose to a record high of $6.52, that has inflicted the most political damage to Trump and the Republicans as November’s midterm approach.

The agreement was criticized by Democrats, who said it undercut a law Trump signed last month allowing for a broad range of sanctions on Russian banks, officials and tankers, as well as directing him to impose steep tariffs on the top five importers of oil or natural gas from Russia. The law gave Trump wide discretion to make exceptions to its provisions.

Perhaps the fiercest response came from Zelenskyy, who told Axios that it “looks like a happy birthday present for Putin. It looks absolutely terrible.” The Russian leader turned 74 earlier this week.

“It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world,” he said.

Zelenskyy, in a separate statement released by Ukraine’s embassy in Washington on Friday, said the Ukrainian negotiators had been “used as a smokescreen for the deal”, which he called “a weak decision by strong partners”.

Trump has recently criticized Ukraine for attacking Russian diesel refineries, calling on Zelenskyy to choose alternative targets. The Ukrainian leader rejected the request unless Russia accepted a reciprocal de-escalation plan that would stop Moscow attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The latest development is likely to lead to a further deterioration of Zelenskyy’s relationship with the Trump administration. He was infamously ambushed by Trump and the vice-president, JD Vance, last year in an explosive White House encounter when the president told him: “You don’t have the cards.”

Trump’s willingness to reach an agreement with Putin that will lower fuel costs comes despite Russia’s support for Iran in its war with the US. Russia is believed to have given Iran satellite intelligence and overhead surveillance data detailing the locations of American forces, ships, aircraft and military bases. It has also provided drone components and ammunition.