Oct 11, 2026
After his unexpected diesel deal with Russia, James Hanson wants to know why Donald Trump ‘always takes Putin’s side’.
Russia has agreed to supply over 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the American and global marketplace after what Donald Trump described as a “highly successful” discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump added that Russia would then deliver three million tons of diesel fuel within a short period of time, based on the condition of its diesel refineries, and would immediately supply another 500,000 tons in November and one million tons immediately thereafter.
Writing on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: “Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!
“Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.
“This is a very big and important announcement. Additionally, it must be understood, that Iran will not have a Nuclear Weapon!”
In response to the announcement, the UK has pledged to “maintain pressure on Russia” through “the toughest sanctions regime” it had ever imposed.
A UK Government spokesperson said Britain’s position “could not be clearer”.
They added: “We will continue working closely with international partners to ensure Ukraine has the military and financial support it needs to defend itself.
An envoy for Putin, Kirill Dmitriev, praised cooperation between Russia and the United States on diesel and energy in a post on X on Friday, shortly after Putin and Trump spoke on the phone.
“Russia-US cooperation on diesel and energy will benefit the world,” Mr Dmitriev wrote on Twitter.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, wide-ranging sanctions have been applied to Russia.
To get the diesel fuel moved, the US Treasury Department simultaneously announced Friday that it would be easing sanctions on Russia through April 7.
The average price of diesel has rocketed to an all-time high, hitting £2 a litre in the UK last week.
Petrol has also been on the rise, and average prices are around 42p a litre more than since the start of the Iran war.
Businesses say this has been making transportation more expensive for them and across their supply chains, while they have also faced higher oil and gas prices and international shipping disruption.
The UK imports nearly 55% of the diesel it uses, with the US accounting for around 31% of that.
Mr Trump has been under mounting domestic pressure to bring down fuel prices in the run-up to November’s midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.
It came on the same day that Ukraine unleashed its largest drone attack on Moscow since their conflict began, with the city’s mayor saying 450 drones were shot down and the capital’s main oil refinery hit.
Trump has reportedly pleaded with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop striking Russian oil refineries because the attacks were driving up diesel prices.
The average price of a litre of diesel in the UK passed £2 for the first time earlier this month which followed talks between Britain and its European allies about releasing emergency diesel stockpiles.
Responding to the ease of sanctions, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is counting on the US to have a “correspondingly strong conversation with Russia”.
The Ukrainian leader wrote on Twitter: “Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness.
“It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world.
“Ukraine is ready to take symmetrical de-escalatory steps, 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.”
He added: “Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilised world. Russia will repay the diesel with further terror and perfidy.”
Taco is an embarrassment to every decent American, who is the vast majority. He is a gangster, a traitor, a child rapist, a convicted felon, a pathological liar, and a spineless coward. This worst president ever must be impeached, put on trial for his countless crimes, and put in prison for the rest of his miserable life.
Flawless presentation by James, who has built up a good understanding of Ukraine from his time with Times Radio.
Even Boris is outraged by Krasnov’s latest treachery, evil and lies :-
“It is sickening that the USA is now lifting sanctions on Russian fuel, and transparently ridiculous to blame Ukraine for the spike in prices that obviously began with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Putin is murdering innocent Ukrainian civilians every day. The Ukrainians are fighting for their lives. And yet the White House is apparently determined to force American drivers to bankroll Putin’s slaughter. It won’t work and I doubt it will make much difference to the price of fuel.
If we want Russian oil and gas back on the world market then let’s end this war – with a free, sovereign and independent Ukraine.”
“It is vital that the West is clear about Ukraine’s ultimate destiny – they want to be a free sovereign independent country – and part of the West. We should welcome and support that.”
Speaking as Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)