President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that U.S. President Donald Trump respects Russian dictator Vladimir Putin because of his many years in power. Zelenskyy also did not rule out new energy agreements between the United States and Russia following the diesel fuel supply deal.
The head of state said this in an interview with Financial Times. Asked to explain the relationship between Trump and Putin, Zelenskyy said that the U.S. president has an “instinctive affinity for autocrats and ultra-wealthy people.”
“He [Trump] openly and loudly says that he likes such people and respects such people. Because for him, people who can be leaders for 20, 30, 40 years mean that they can be very strong.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Possible new energy agreements
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. In his view, halting energy attacks could encourage the United States and Russia to conclude new agreements that could potentially provide more money for Putin’s war machine.
The president suggested that following the diesel fuel arrangements, a gas deal could be next. At the same time, he stressed that the implementation of energy projects between Washington and Moscow is complicated by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“The question will be: when will the next deal be? Maybe it will be gas. It will definitely be gas. Business between the United States and Russia is interesting. I think they [the United States] want to implement energy projects, and doing so during a war is, of course, complicated.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
According to Zelenskyy, Trump could also face a negative reaction from the American public over doing business with Russia during the war.
“Politically, it is not easy [in America], because everyone will want to ask how this is possible when some people are surviving, fighting, dying — and you… are doing business with guys committing such aggression.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
The diesel deal and the “energy truce”
On October 9, Trump announced an agreement with Putin on supplying Russian diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets. It provides for the following volumes:
- more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel — “immediately”;
- 500,000 tonnes — during November;
- another 1,000,000 tonnes — “immediately afterward”;
- 3,000,000 tonnes — at the next stage “within a short timeframe.”
Following this, the United States temporarily eased sanctions restrictions on Russian diesel, while Russia lifted its export ban ahead of schedule. At the same time, analysts, as noted by Financial Times, believe that this deal is unlikely to ensure a lasting reduction in fuel prices.
On October 11, Trump announced an “energy truce” between Ukraine and Russia. However, according to Zelenskyy, Russian occupiers have not stopped attacking Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure since then.
