President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to US and global markets immediately, with 500,000 tons in November, a further million tons thereafter, and up to three million more depending on refinery conditions [4][5][6][20]. The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License No. 135, permitting transactions related to Russian-origin diesel through April 7, 2027 [16][36]. The announcement came weeks after Trump signed a broad Russia sanctions law and amid record US diesel prices, with reports placing the price between $6.27 and $6.52 per gallon [8][12][14].
Trump framed the deal as a measure to lower fuel costs for American farmers, ranchers, and truckers, declaring on Truth Social that lowering energy prices was his "Greatest Priority" and thanking Putin for the agreement [11][16][25][34]. Putin confirmed Russia's readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to US and global markets and said he believed the cooperation would positively affect the global economy [16][34][36]. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the deal, stating that Russia-US energy and economic cooperation would continue and benefit global markets and the world [6][8][12]. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed Russia could supply 300,000 tons in October, with exports rising in November and December as refineries resume operations [8][31][36].
According to Axios, the agreement followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries despite approximately six American requests to stop, with an unnamed US official saying the strikes were driving up US energy prices [1][10][23][28][38]. Trump told reporters that Zelensky "better damn well stop" the refinery attacks, which he said were causing global diesel shortages, and said it was time for Ukraine to elect a new president willing to make a deal [9][13][15][17][29]. Dmitriev welcomed Trump's remarks about new Ukrainian leadership as historic [15]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha responded that Zelensky leads the country in a war for independence and dignity and that the Ukrainian people alone have the right to decide their leadership [9][40].
Zelensky condemned the diesel deal as a "gift" to Putin and an investment in war, stating that Russia would repay the sanctions relief with "further terror and perfidy" [6][8][14][25][27]. On the day of the announcement, Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia killed at least 17 people according to some reports and at least 21, including four children, according to others; Zelensky said Russia "expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings" [9][13][15][17]. He proposed a mutual cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure — halting Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries in exchange for Russia stopping attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities [23][27][33]. Putin dismissed as "absurd" a proposal to halt Russian strikes on Ukrainian ships in exchange for Ukraine stopping refinery attacks [20].
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said suspending sanctions gives Moscow more revenue to wage war and that "this is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't" [6][9][13][17][20]. European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said the EU is reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels and will resolutely continue to do so [20]. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Berlin remains committed to sanctions and is working with European partners on further measures, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz having repeatedly stated Germany would not reduce support for Kyiv [22][26][29]. The Latvian Foreign Ministry said the US decision sends Moscow a mixed signal and called on Washington to tighten sanctions [32]. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed "uneingeschränkte Solidarität" (unconditional solidarity) with Zelensky and pledged tougher British sanctions [9][29].
In the United States, Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer, Jeanne Shaheen, and Elizabeth Warren called the authorization "a total betrayal of Ukraine, our European allies and American national security," accusing Trump of funding Russia's war effort to offset fuel price increases from the US war with Iran [14][20]. Schumer separately accused Trump of "doing a deal with the devil" to reverse his political fortunes from diesel prices caused by his own war in the Middle East [39]. Republican Congressman Don Bacon said the US should be squeezing Putin's war machine rather than rewarding a dictator, calling propping up Putin's war economy "morally wrong" [7][14][41]. House Representative Madeleine Dean said Trump was "preparing to stab Ukraine in the back" [39].
Market analysts and energy researchers judged the announced volumes economically negligible. Ukrainian sanctions official Vladyslav Vlasiuk said the US consumes 3.5 million tons of diesel weekly while Russia's proposed 300,000 tons cover just 15 hours of US demand, calling the deal "economically pointless" [20]. Investment strategist Tim Armitage said the first tranche of about 2.25 million barrels is too small to materially lower US pump prices and described the move as a "slightly desperate" attempt to lower inflation before the midterms [6][18]. Oil market researcher Rory Johnston called the deal "a nothing burger," noting Russia typically exports much larger volumes when refineries are not under attack [41][43]. Analyst Dan Pickering estimated the supply increase at about 5-6%, saying it was more political than a market-changing move [44][45]. German public broadcaster ARD noted that 300,000 tonnes covers only about 14 hours of US diesel consumption [29]. Brazilian energy specialists, by contrast, said added supply could ease pressure on importing countries, with Brazil having depended on the US for about 80% of imported diesel in September [46].
Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov stated that Putin made no commitment to resume peace talks with Ukraine during the call, citing Ukrainian attacks during Russia's parliamentary elections [10][28][38]. Senior Fellow Edward Fishman of the Council on Foreign Relations said Ukraine's intensified refinery strikes have weakened Russian capacity and whether Russia can fulfill the promises is uncertain [42][45]. Energy analyst Gregory Brew of Eurasia Group said Putin likely expects Ukraine to stop attacks on refineries in exchange for the favor to Trump [45]. Carnegie Endowment Vice President Dan Baer said the move pleases no one: economically the supply is too limited for a real price effect, and geopolitically the negative effects are profound [42].
Parallel to the Trump-Putin call, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Ukrainian and European officials in Miami to discuss proposals to end the war, presenting a post-war package covering reconstruction financing, rebuilding Ukraine's army, and managing the war-induced budget deficit [8][10][13][14][23]. Witkoff described the Miami talks as "constructive" and said they agreed to continue diplomatic efforts [8][13]. Novaya Gazeta Europe reported that US negotiators warned the Ukrainian delegation in advance about Trump's upcoming call with Putin and plans to lift sanctions, and that the US threatened to cut intelligence sharing [23]. The Kremlin said Trump also welcomed Russia's involvement in efforts to settle the Iran conflict, with Putin having briefed Trump on Iran's conditions for ending the war [21][24].
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet on October 12 to approve additional sanctions listings targeting Russia's war machine [20][32]. Zelensky discussed the US sanctions easing with French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, saying pressure on Russia must increase [33]. Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued, with Ukraine's energy provider DTEK reporting large-scale power outages in Kyiv [13].