Фото: president.gov.ua
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on the US-Russia agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies, describing Washington’s decision as an investment in the war.
“Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or benefit the civilised world. Russia will ‘repay’ diesel supplies with more terror and treachery. Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged. Genuine de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis is necessary,” Zelenskyy said on October 9.
Zelenskyy stressed that peace cannot be achieved through weakness and called for a strong response to end the war: tightening sanctions under Lindsey Graham’s bill, putting pressure on Russia and supporting Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president noted that Russian attacks on Ukraine had increased after the EU lifted sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
“Dozens have been killed and hundreds injured. The Russians are compensating for their inability to achieve their objectives on the front line with this kind of terror. This year, Russia is weaker on the battlefield than at any other point in the war. That is precisely why Putin is relying on terror. That is why he is counting on attempts to reach behind-the-scenes agreements on easing pressure on Russia in one way or another, in order to buy more time and gain opportunities to continue the war,” Zelenskyy said.
He described easing sanctions against Russia without a clear agreement on de-escalation as a sign of weakness.
Ukraine, for its part, is ready to de-escalate and stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“Ukraine is ready to take reciprocal steps towards de-escalation, and the American team knows our position. Our strikes on Russian oil refineries and other oil facilities are a response to Russia’s years-long campaign of terror against Ukraine’s energy sector.
Ukraine will not set Russian oil refineries on fire if Russia does not destroy our energy infrastructure. This is precisely the kind of agreement we are proposing to the United States, and we believe that the United States has sufficient leverage to secure such a compromise,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was counting on fair support from the United States.
On October 9, US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin and said that the US and Russia had reached an agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies to the American and global markets.
According to Trump, Russia will supply 4.8 million tonnes of diesel fuel: 300,000 tonnes “immediately”, another 500,000 tonnes in November, followed by 1 million tonnes and an additional 3 million tonnes “within a short period”.
The US Treasury Department has issued a temporary general licence authorising Russian diesel fuel supplies until April 7, 2027.