Yuri Kobzar19:46, 10.10.26

Russia received political protection from Trump for its oil refineries without any commitment to stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector.

The dubious diesel deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has effectively killed the idea of ​​an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia, according to The Kyiv Independent , citing Ukrainian officials involved in the negotiations or knowledge of their progress.

A Ukrainian delegation, which arrived in the United States to discuss a possible energy truce between Ukraine and Russia, was shocked by the Trump administration’s decision to temporarily ease sanctions against Russian diesel fuel exports. According to the publication, Kyiv received no advance notice of the agreement between the Russians and the Americans. Ukrainian representatives suspected that Washington had already agreed on the terms with Moscow, while Kyiv and its European partners were merely trying to define the parameters of the energy truce.

“It wasn’t just our delegation there, but the European one as well. Everyone just sat there like idiots. (…) It felt like a trap,” a high-ranking Ukrainian official told the publication.

A Ukrainian official drew attention to the suspicious date until which the US suspended sanctions.

“They lifted sanctions before April 7… So they were preparing for October 7. It’s a birthday present for Putin. They counted down six months,” the official said.

An additional source of tension was Trump’s demands that Ukraine cease attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. On September 13, the American president called on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cease attacks on diesel fuel production facilities. Ukraine insisted that any ceasefire must include mutual commitments.

According to a participant in this week’s talks, the American side threatened to stop sharing intelligence that helps Ukraine strike targets in Russia.

“I hope the Americans don’t give them Patriots to protect their oil refineries,” a Ukrainian official joked sadly.

As The Kyiv Independent notes, none of this had any impact on the war situation: Russia continued its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, and Ukraine, in response, continued to strike oil refineries in Russia.

“It was just incredibly stupid to kill the energy truce with this move,” one official said, suggesting Washington was trying to deprive Ukraine of its biggest source of leverage in the negotiations.

According to the publication’s source, with all these steps, Trump is simply trying to deflect blame for the global energy crisis caused by the war with Iran and shift it onto the Ukrainians.

Trump-Putin Agreement

As UNIAN reported, ISW analysts noted that the US allowed Russia to export diesel fuel without making any concessions to Ukraine. The analysts described Donald Trump’s decision as a unilateral concession to Putin, easing sanctions pressure. As a result, Russia benefits economically without making any concessions in negotiations to end the war.

We also reported that analysts doubt the practical benefit of Trump’s diesel agreement with Putin for the United States , as it involves small volumes and unresolved logistical issues. This decision was criticized in Ukraine and among American politicians, with some emphasizing that it provides Russia with additional resources for the war.

(c)UNIAN 2026