U.S. and Ukrainian leaders respond to growing mistrust by offering Russian diesel oil and easing sanctions

[Washington Current Affairs] President Trump, who wants to calm diesel oil prices before the U.S. midterm elections, has expressed the view that it would be desirable for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who continues to attack Russian oil refineries, to step down. Earlier, Zelenskyy criticized the US for easing sanctions against Russia for importing Russian diesel oil. If distrust between the two leaders grows, the chances of an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine could become even more remote.

"Our top priority is lowering prices for Americans, especially farmers, ranchers, and truck drivers." On the 9th, Trump made no secret of his SNS post announcing that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply diesel oil, and that his main objective was to deal with the issue domestically.

The US government is said to have asked Ukraine to refrain from attacks on Russian oil refineries, which would lead to tight supply and demand for diesel oil. This is because the U.S. agricultural and livestock industry, which relies on diesel oil for fuel for agricultural machinery and transportation trucks, has been affected, and dissatisfaction has been growing in agricultural states, which are strongholds of the ruling Republican Party.

Dan Pickering, head of investment at leading energy investment firm Pickering Energy Partners, said on social media that the agreement "has strong political implications more than anything." Experts are raising questions about Russia's supply capacity, which is suffering from declining oil refining capacity, and the effectiveness of price reductions.

Zelenskiy, on the other hand, criticized the fact that Trump, who just signed the sanctions law against Russia in September, changed his policy in just one month and decided to unilaterally ease the pressure, calling it "unfair and dishonest." On the 8th, Russian military bombing damaged a bus in eastern Ukraine, killing more than 30 people. On the 10th, an attack on an apartment building in the south left 20 people dead. Russia is increasing its air strikes.

When Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin talked on the phone on the 9th about diesel oil supplies, talks between the United States, Europe, and Ukraine toward ending the conflict were underway in Miami, Florida. Zelenskiy criticized the talks as being used as a "cover" for U.S.-Russian negotiations. The second day of talks scheduled for the 10th reportedly did not take place, and there is growing uncertainty about the future of the peace negotiations.