Moscow has yet to see a single U.S. dollar from President Donald Trump’s diesel deal, but Russian leader Vladimir Putin still benefits in a different way. Trump announced an agreement with Putin to offer sanctions relief for Russian diesel. This decision faced criticism from lawmakers in Washington and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump exacerbated tensions by blaming Zelensky for America’s soaring diesel prices and suggesting Ukraine find a new leader.
Putin receives substantial political capital from Trump’s statements. The Kremlin quickly capitalized on this rhetoric to reinforce its narrative against Kyiv.
Political Context
Elections are not possible under Ukraine’s martial law. A temporary ceasefire isn’t enough to conduct credible elections. A poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows 71 percent of Ukrainians oppose holding elections now.
Zelensky suggested to ABC News that Trump should persuade Putin to agree to a complete ceasefire for two months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea, branding it a tactic for Kyiv to regroup. Peskov stated Putin would order no attacks on Ukraine if elections occur. This mirrors Putin’s previous offer made in December 2025.
Changing Dynamics
The U.S. president, Trump, urged for a new Ukrainian leader and criticized Zelensky for failing to make political concessions. Trump claimed Russia and Ukraine were maintaining an energy infrastructure truce, despite evidence to the contrary.
Moscow and Kyiv didn’t achieve Trump’s proposed truce. Following his announcement, Russian missiles struck Ukrainian power facilities, and Kyiv targeted Russian refineries. These violations were not addressed by Trump, who maintained Putin’s willingness to deal.
U.S. Relations with Ukraine
Trump previously reprimanded Zelensky during their February 2025 meeting at the Oval Office. Kyiv has since worked tirelessly to restore relations and advocate for pressure on Moscow. Trump condemned Russian attacks as disgraceful and threatened sanctions. In G7 summits, he pressured Russia to negotiate.
September 18 marked significant progress with Trump’s approval of sanctions against Russia, winning bipartisan support. Trump expressed a strong relationship with Zelensky at the UN General Assembly.
Future Prospects
The diesel deal’s legality faces challenges from senators, citing the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act. The act requires Russia to acknowledge Ukrainians’ rights before lifting import restrictions. While Putin values potential political narratives over fuel payments, Moscow gains strategic options to push Ukraine into difficult positions.
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