EU leaders rage over US diesel deal with Russia: "Gift to Putin"

The announcement by the United States to temporarily lift sanctions against Russian diesel has come as a cold shower for Ukraine and its allies in Europe.

Many EU countries sympathize with Volodymyr Zelenskyi when he says that he feels "betrayed" and "betrayed" by the United States.

- It is painful when President Trump chooses a side, not our side, Zelenskyy said in an interview with the British television profile Piers Morgan on Wednesday.

Zelenskyj will arrive in Brussels on Friday, where EU heads of state and government are currently meeting for a two-day summit. Support for Ukraine is, as usual, high on the agenda, and the announcement from the White House is seen with particularly dispassionate eyes.

- It is a gift to Putin, says EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas in an interview with Euronews.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson cannot regret the US's decision enough.

- Europe has a huge responsibility to continue supporting Ukraine. We need more unity for Ukraine and more unity against Russia, not the other way around, he says.

At the same time, several EU countries such as Hungary and Slovakia continue to import Russian oil and gas. Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and until July this year, the EU has spent around 200 billion euros (equivalent to more than SEK 2,000 billion) on Russian energy, according to the European Commission's calculations.

It is significantly less than what Russia has claimed in various contexts, but enough to provide a substantial addition to the Kremlin's war coffers.

Shouldn't Europe clean up its own backyard before we criticize the US?

- We have agreed on a large number of sanctions and we have come as far as possible. But now going in the other direction and in practice lifting sanctions is a bad idea, says Ulf Kristersson.

DN has taken note of the proposal for a joint statement (the so-called conclusions) that all heads of state and government stand behind when the summit is over. There is a clear condemnation of US Russian business.