Zelenskyy Condemns Trump’s Russia Diesel Deal as ‘Very Dangerous’

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned President Donald Trump’s recent diesel deal with Russia, calling it a ‘very dangerous’ move that could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. During an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press, Zelenskyy warned that Trump’s decision to waive sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy imports risks strengthening Putin’s war effort against Ukraine.

Sanctions Waiver Sparks Concern

Zelenskyy accused Trump of providing ‘really big support for Putin’ by easing sanctions, which he argued could give the Russian leader a false sense of victory. ‘He feels victory with sanctions,’ Zelenskyy said, adding that Putin has not achieved any real success on the battlefield, especially in 2026. The Ukrainian leader also expressed fears that the diesel deal could erase the impact of frozen Russian assets and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, which he said are key to affecting U.S. fuel prices.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Defends Waiver

Later in the interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent countered Zelenskyy’s claims, stating that no sanctions were lifted and that the only change was the removal of the embargo on Russian diesel. Bessent also claimed that Zelenskyy ‘does not criticize his European partners,’ arguing that the Europeans are financing the Russian war machine.

Legal Framework of the Sanctions Waiver

Trump signed an executive order on Friday to waive the Russian sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he signed into law on September 18. The law, named after the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, mandates tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, and up to 500% on other Russian imports. The Senate passed the bill 86-11 on August 7, and the House approved it 262-159 on September 16.

Source: Daily Caller

Written by

Connor Davis