After his announced diesel agreement with Russia, US President Donald Trump massively attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - and called for his replacement.
It is “time for Ukraine to have a new president” who is ready to end the war with Russia, Trump told reporters at the White House. The Ukrainians should look for a new leader who can conclude an agreement to end the war.
Because despite many opportunities, Zelensky "never did that for some reason." What Trump did not mention, however, is that the war was not started by Ukraine, but by Russia, which attacked the neighboring country a good four years ago. Since then, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected offers for an unconditional ceasefire. Later diplomatic initiatives also came to nothing.
Crude oil prices at record levels due to the Iran war
Trump also claimed that Ukraine contributed to the diesel shortage by attacking the Russian energy sector. Zelensky wants to "cause problems with diesel fuel for our farmers and ranchers," Trump said.
The Ukrainian president should "stop the hell out of it" with the attacks on Russian refineries. However, Trump made no mention of the massive Russian attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population. Just today, at least 20 people were killed in Russian attacks in southeastern Ukraine, including three children.
In fact, the prices of crude oil and diesel had skyrocketed not because of the sanctions against Russia but as a result of the Iran war. Trump started this together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last February.
Republicans under pressure ahead of congressional elections
The high diesel prices are causing considerable discontent among the US population ahead of the congressional elections on November 3rd - the so-called midterms. That's why Trump announced on Friday that he would buy diesel from Russia despite existing sanctions. “Lower prices for Americans and especially for our great farmers, ranchers and truck drivers” is his “top priority.”
The Republican Party fears that it will be punished in the elections and lose its majority in Congress. This would also make it more difficult to implement Trump's plans.
This led to the US President's agreement with Putin yesterday to make more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel available to the US and the world market. According to Trump, another half a million tons of diesel will be released during November and a million tons "immediately thereafter."
However, that's not a lot: As data from the US Energy Agency (EIA) on consumption in the USA shows, 300,000 tonnes mathematically cover consumption for a good 14 hours.
Zelenskyj: Agreement “not fair and not honest”
Zelensky reacted angrily to the deal. The agreement was “not fair and not honest,” he told the US news portal Axios. He was particularly annoyed that Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were negotiating with Ukrainian negotiators in Miami about a possible end to the war parallel to the agreement with Putin.
There was no mention of the planned diesel agreement. Zelensky wrote on Telegram: "Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in the war (against Ukraine) that must be ended, not prolonged." Moscow will thank you with more “terror and meanness.”
Europe remains on Ukraine's side
Zelensky continues to receive support from Europe. The new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised Ukraine to tighten sanctions against Russia. This should further restrict the Russian war machine, Burnham made clear in a telephone conversation with Zelensky.
Burnham also called for an energy ceasefire. Accordingly, Russia must end its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and shipping in the Black Sea.
The federal government is also sticking to its course towards Russia. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said: "Ukraine's support in its defensive fight remains unbroken." A spokeswoman for Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) emphasized: "Germany fully supports the sanctions packages."
