Donald Trump's plan to import Russian diesel fuel despite Western sanctions has sparked fierce criticism in Washington, including from within his own Republican Party, as high fuel prices and upcoming Congressional midterm elections increase pressure on his administration.

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Friday about an agreement expected to bring 300,000 tonnes of diesel to global markets in October, half a million tonnes in November, and one million tonnes in December. "Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!" Trump posted online.

Russia has signalled it can supply even more. Alexander Novak, Russian deputy prime minister, told the television programme Vesti on Monday that Moscow could reach supply volumes of 3.5 million tonnes per month to global markets by the end of the year. "Just as was the case before the crisis," Novak said.

Experts have expressed scepticism about the deal's economic rationale. Kostis Stambolis, executive director of the Institute of Energy for South-East Europe, described the move as "purely political" and designed to put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a difficult position. Trump wants to signal that the US has "no problem with Russia", unlike Europe, Stambolis said.

Stambolis noted that Russia produces 5.8 million tonnes of diesel per month, with roughly two million tonnes likely available for export. He also pointed to structural vulnerabilities in Europe's energy position, noting that approximately 30 European refineries have closed over the past 15 years due to environmental regulations under the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, leaving the continent no longer self-sufficient in refined products.

Trump was leveraging that weakness to shift Europe's position on Ukraine, Stambolis argued. "This is opening the rift between the US and the EU further," he said.

Europe has responded by reaffirming its support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that Ukraine's war funding would be "front and centre" of the European Council summit this week. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Monday called on European countries to ban all tourist visas for Russian nationals.

Zelenskyy strongly condemned the deal, which would suspend sanctions on Russian oil products until April 2027. Ukraine has previously destroyed roughly half of Russia's refining capacity, according to Kyiv, as part of a strategy to cut off revenue financing Moscow's war effort. Ukraine has also struck Russian tankers carrying crude oil to global markets.

"Gifts to Putin will not lead to peace," Zelenskyy said on Saturday. "Any weakening of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious sign of weakness."

Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, leading Ukraine to suspend its attacks on Russian refineries. However, Russian strikes subsequently hit Kyiv's energy grid, and attacks on Dnipropetrovsk killed 12 people. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed any concession to Zelenskyy. "I do not think he has earned a respite," Lavrov said.

Trump blamed Zelenskyy directly for rising fuel costs in the United States. "[Zelenskyy] wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump went further, suggesting a change in Ukrainian leadership. "I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," he said.

The deal has highlighted what observers describe as a contradictory approach by Trump toward Russia and Ukraine. He cut US military aid to Ukraine after taking office in January 2025, but agreed to sell weapons to European allies to support Kyiv. He clashed publicly with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February 2025, telling him "You don't have the cards," yet later praised him at a NATO summit, saying Zelenskyy had "done an amazing job" and "been very effective."

Last month, Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Act, which would allow him to impose penalties on countries purchasing Russian oil. Eleven days later, he reversed course with the diesel agreement.