Resumption of Russian diesel imports criticized Reuters: The United States hopes that the agreement will soften Moscow’s negotiating position

Reuters reported that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff (right) and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner (left) told Ukraine that resuming Russian diesel imports may help promote peace negotiations. (AFP)

U.S. President Trump announced a diesel trade deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 9th, triggering criticism from Ukrainian and U.S. lawmakers across party lines. Reuters pointed out that when U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with the Uzbek delegation in Miami that day, they tried to convince Uzbekistan that this move would help soften Moscow's negotiating position.

During the meeting, the United States informed the Uzbek delegation that Putin was not ready to engage in end-of-war negotiations. The diesel agreement may help restart trilateral negotiations and convey that Trump is open to taking action, which may soften Moscow's position. According to a person familiar with the matter, "The idea is that the United States can turn around and tell Russia: 'Ukraine stopped attacking, we gave you this deal, and now it is your turn to say something.'"

With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, Trump blamed Ukraine's bombing of Russian energy facilities for public dissatisfaction with rising fuel prices. But most experts bluntly say that the war in Iran is the main reason for high energy prices. Under the agreement, Russia will supply more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel to the U.S. and global markets. The move drew criticism from domestic cross-party senators that it was providing resources for Moscow's war economy and would not help force Putin to make concessions. It resumed imports of Russian diesel without consulting Congress or providing legitimate reasons, violating the 2022 law banning the import of Russian energy, and urged Trump to withdraw his order.