In an absolute gut-punch for Ukraine and its fight against Russia, Donald Trump announced on Friday evening that he’d agreed a deal with Vladimir Putin to export Russian diesel to both the US and global markets, undermining the worldwide sanctions that have been imposed against the nation since 2022.
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Donald’s dodgy diesel deal spreads dismay to Ukraine
The move has been labelled ‘cowardly’ by many western experts – and Volodomyr Zelensky himself responded by insisting that peace could not be achieved ‘through weakness’. With Trump and the Republicans facing a disastrous forecast for next month’s mid-term elections, desperation is starting to show.
Diesel prices have hit record highs in America, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the damage to regional oil infrastructure that has followed. The US war against Iran – which has been declared ‘over’ countless times by Donald Trump – has now raged into its eighth month.
The decision has turned voters off, and multiple polls are showing a swing towards the Democrats among the American electorate. Alongside Don’s dirty diesel deal this, the president has also moved to sanction the International Criminal Court, and confirmed the state would ‘live-stream’ an upcoming execution.
The fuel agreement with Russia is seen as a ‘tipping point’ by some, who claim that the US has fully strayed into ‘rogue state’ territory. With the current administration in place, it’s hard to see past the argument – and their position leaves Ukraine in a very tight spot.
How much diesel will the US receive? Not a lot…
Another factor to consider is just how light on substance this announcement really is. Trump states that, in total, around three million tons of diesel will flow into the US in the near future. It’s an impressive sounding number – until you realise that Americans use more than that in a single day.
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), an estimated 3.6 million barrels of diesel are consumed across the pond daily. That equates to about 4.9 million tons – which is 1.9 million more than the total amount of fuel Russia has promised to send stateside.
So this whole deal is roughly the equivalent of 14-15 hours worth of diesel. And, when you consider part of the Russian shipment will also be released into the international export market, it suddenly becomes quite clear that this is nothing more than a symbolic gesture. One to try and placate an uneasy public.
Ukraine strikes oil export hub in middle-finger to Trump-Putin deal
In the four-and-a-half years since Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, David has kept Goliath at bay admirably. But Zelensky has been very open about needing the US on his side to repel the aggressors. With Trump’s loyalties now veering towards Moscow, Ukraine has chosen fight over flight.
Hit ’em where it hurts, as they say. The Yug Rusi oil terminal was bombarded overnight via a Ukrainian drone attack. The facility provides around 300,000 tons of diesel per month, and was also targeted last month.
Blazes have raged across the facility – which itself serves as an export terminal and would have been utilised in this new US-Russia deal. Well, there may very well be a spanner in the works now…