Key facts
- European governments criticized Donald Trump's plan to import 300,000 tons of Russian diesel.
- Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated the deal does not help oil prices or transatlantic unity.
- Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee called the announcement 'concerning'.
- German Minister of State for Europe Gunther Krichbaum said spending on Russian energy funds weapons against Kyiv.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the proposed diesel deliveries are insignificant to global supplies.
- Zelenskyy said Kyiv was not informed of the energy ceasefire agreement.
European governments on Monday rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to import hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel, vowing to maintain pressure on Moscow and support Ukraine as it faces a critical winter.
Trump announced over the weekend a plan to import 300,000 tons of Russian diesel, weeks before U.S. midterm elections where energy prices and cost of living are significant concerns. He also claimed Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an "energy ceasefire" and called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to step down.
These statements drew skepticism and criticism from European capitals. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated at a meeting of EU foreign ministers that the deal "doesn't help neither the price of oil products nor the unity of the transatlantic community," adding that "it is not the European way."
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee described Trump's announcement as "concerning," while German Minister of State for Europe Gunther Krichbaum asserted that every dollar spent on Russian energy funds weapons used against Kyiv. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, reminded Washington that "Russia has started this war. We should not forget this."
On Monday, Zelenskyy suggested that Washington might have other motivations for the energy agreement, arguing that the proposed Russian diesel deliveries would have a negligible impact on global supplies, which amount to roughly 120 million tons monthly. "I don't think that this will have a tangible impact," Zelenskyy said. "I believe that there are different rationales behind this decision."
Zelenskyy also questioned why the U.S. does not pursue a diesel deal with Ukraine instead and revealed that Kyiv was unaware of Trump's announcement regarding an energy ceasefire, learning about it through media reports. Despite this, he stated he would support such a truce if Moscow adhered to it.
However, Russian bombs struck Ukrainian power plants just hours after Trump's announcement, causing widespread blackouts. European foreign ministers, entering their meeting, remained united in their stance that increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions and isolation is the path to peace. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže reiterated this position, and British Minister of State Stephen Doughty confirmed London's intention to increase "economic pressure" on Moscow rather than purchasing Russian energy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized any suggestion that Ukraine bears responsibility for the war, calling it a "gift to the aggressor." Kallas also noted that a ceasefire should not disproportionately benefit Russia, which has more refineries than Ukraine, and urged the U.S. to join the EU and UK in imposing harsh sanctions.
Ukraine's financial needs are expected to be a key topic at an upcoming European Council meeting. The IMF estimates Kyiv will face a financing gap of $30 billion to $35 billion next year, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating the war is entering a "new, grimmer phase."