Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confronted President Trump over a deal involving Russian diesel. Supporters of Ukraine, including members of Trump’s circle, are opposing Trump’s arrangement with Russia. They are also concerned about threats to halt weapons and intelligence aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky, bolstered by this backing, critiqued Trump. He labeled the president as “weak” for negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky argued against Trump’s claims linking high diesel prices to Ukraine, citing the U.S. conflict with Iran as the true cause. “Everybody understands that the prices of diesel, it doesn’t depend on our attacks on diesel in Russia,” Zelensky stated during an interview on Fox News with Bill Hemmer. He clarified that the real issue lies with the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
Following Trump’s announcement on Friday, which aimed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports to reduce U.S. prices, Zelensky expressed his indignation. This move prompted a strong response from Ukraine’s allies. Fox News host Mark Levin, close to the president, called Putin an impediment to peace in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, Brian Kilmeade challenged Rachel Campos-Duffy, who supported Trump’s criticism of Zelensky. Kilmeade emphasized the potential mistake of any cooperation with Russia, stating, “It would be the biggest mistake of his administration to work with Russia.”
This friction reflects broader concerns about Trump’s deal with Russia. For further details, refer to the full report by Laura Kelly and Filip Timotija available at thehill.com.
Key Developments
The conflict with Iran has consequences extending to global oil prices. On Monday, after Iranian-backed attacks on Saudi Arabian airports, oil prices surged. Brent Crude, a global oil benchmark, saw an increase, closing at nearly $106 per barrel. Similarly, West Texas Intermediate Crude, a standard in North America, reached $94.36 during trading.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented on the protracted Iran conflict, noting uncertainty about its conclusion. “I don’t know what ‘crying uncle’ is in Farsi, but they’re going to be crying uncle,” Bessent told Fox News, highlighting the economic strain on Iran.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Timothy Broglio criticized Trump’s decision to broadcast the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted Fort Hood shooter, cautioning against mimicking terrorist tactics. Broglio expressed his support for the affected families.
An agreement between the Pentagon and the Small Business Administration was announced, aimed at improving access to capital for small businesses in the U.S. defense industry. This builds on the Smaller War Plants Commission initiative and will support suppliers and manufacturers.
Upcoming Events
Several events will occur in the defense sector:
- The Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and exposition will begin at 7 a.m.
- The Hudson Institute will host the Czech-US Defense and Security Forum at 12:15 p.m.
- Government Executive Media Group’s Defense One will discuss “The Future Battlefield” at 4:30 p.m.
- The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation will hold a virtual talk on defense spending at 7 p.m.
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