US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia will supply large quantities of diesel to the American and global markets, a sharp break with years of Western pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the move as a gift to Putin.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons soon after. A further 3 million tons would follow, depending on the condition of Russia's refineries. Shortly afterwards, the US Treasury issued a temporary general license easing sanctions on Russian diesel. Reports differ on its duration, with some pointing to April 2027 and the BBC citing 7 April. Other Russian assets, such as those held in American banks, remain frozen. Putin said Russia was ready to supply oil and petroleum products to the US and global markets, though he gave no figures. Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Putin, welcomed the deal. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was lifting its diesel export restrictions early and could begin US deliveries in October.

Zelenskyy said the deal was "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged" and predicted Russia would repay it with "further terror and perfidy." He said Ukrainian negotiators had been "used as a smokescreen", because Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were meeting Ukrainian and European officials in Miami on peace proposals when the announcement came. He called it "a weak decision by strong partners." He also defended Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries, which Trump has criticised, saying they would stop if Russia stopped hitting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The UK government said its position was unchanged and that it would keep up pressure on Russia through sanctions.

Criticism also came from within the US. Democratic leaders said the deal undercut a sanctions law Trump signed last month, which allows sanctions on Russian banks, officials and tankers and directs tariffs of up to 100% on the top importers of Russian oil and gas, though it gives him wide discretion. Republican Congressman Don Bacon said propping up Putin's war economy was morally wrong.

The background is the war with Iran, which began in February. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for about 20% of global oil supplies before the conflict, has pushed up fuel costs. US diesel averages $6.28 a gallon, according to AAA, after a record of about $6.52 in late September. With midterm congressional elections on 3 November, high prices are a political problem for Trump and the Republicans.

Analysts doubt the deal will help much. Tim Armitage of Quilter Cheviot said the first tranche equals roughly 2.25 million barrels, against US daily consumption of about 3.8 million, so it would not materially change pump prices. Michael Lynch of the Energy Policy Research Foundation said diverting Russian diesel to the US would simply leave other buyers short. Questions also remain over whether Russia, whose diesel output has fallen by about 30% because of Ukrainian strikes, can deliver, and what it receives in return. The White House has not answered those questions.