On Saturday, Oct. 10, Donald Trump said that “it is time for Ukraine to have a new president” (BFM, franceinfo, Le Figaro, RFI, BBC). He blames Volodymyr Zelensky for hitting Russian refineries, which would worsen the global diesel shortage, and wants a leader able to strike a deal with Moscow (Ouest-France, franceinfo). The remarks come a day after the announcement of a deal with Vladimir Putin: Russia would supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel “immediately” (Reuters, AP). Zelensky sees an “investment in the war” (Reuters) and, according to Le Monde, an “unworthy” and “weak” decision. The same day, Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia, in southeastern Ukraine, killed at least 15 people, including three children; the toll rises to 20 or 21 dead according to France 24 and the Straits Times. Kyiv also suffered massive power cuts (Le Monde). At dawn on Sunday, Trump said that Putin “would like to see a settlement” (Le Figaro).
Washington eases pressure on Moscow over one specific product, then calls into question the leader of the attacked country: the sequence weakens the Western front a few weeks before the American midterm elections. The outcome depends on the reaction of the Europeans, Kyiv’s main financial backers.
For French consumers, diesel is priced on a global market: more Russian diesel could moderate prices, but Bloomberg Economics judges the effect limited, the November cargo representing about one day of U.S. consumption. A break between Washington and Kyiv would weigh on the continent’s security.
Trump presents his approach as a search for peace: without a deal with Russia, the war will go on, and the strikes on refineries worsen prices for everyone.
Kyiv and several European capitals see a weakening of the attacked party: the choice of president belongs to Ukrainians, Minister Andrii Sybiha reminded, and the EU considers that lifting sanctions on diesel gives Moscow “the means to wage war.”
Distinguish words from deeds: no electoral procedure has been announced in Ukraine, and the European sanctions hold, Germany has said again. Watch the meeting between Andy Burnham and Zelensky, the follow-up to the Miami talks, and the number of diesel cargoes that have actually left Russia. The volumes are announced by Trump alone.
BFMTV · franceinfo · Le Figaro · Le Monde · RFI · BBC · France 24 · Reuters · Ouest-France (Oct. 10)
Trump calls for “a new president” for Ukraine a day after the Russian diesel deal. Strikes on Zaporizhzhia kill more than 15
After the Russian diesel deal, Donald Trump says it is time for Ukraine to have another president. The Europeans are closing ranks behind Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian strikes continue.
On Saturday, Oct. 10, Donald Trump said that “it is time for Ukraine to have a new president” (BFM, franceinfo, Le Figaro, RFI, BBC). He blames Volodymyr Zelensky for hitting Russian refineries, which, he says, worsens the global diesel shortage, and he wants a leader “who can reach a deal” with Moscow (Ouest-France). The remarks come a day after the announcement of a deal with Vladimir Putin: Russia would supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel “immediately” (Reuters, AP). Zelensky sees an “investment in the war” (Reuters); Le Monde reports that he calls the decision “unworthy” and “weak.” The same day, Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia, in southeastern Ukraine, killed at least 15 people, including three children. The toll rose to 20 or 21 dead according to France 24 and the Straits Times. Kyiv also suffered massive power cuts (Le Monde). A Kremlin adviser described the phone call between Trump and Putin as “very friendly,” with neither wanting to hang up first (Reuters). According to FinancialJuice, a single outlet, Moscow partly lifted its ban on diesel exports after the deal.
The Europeans have closed ranks. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham assured Zelensky of his “total solidarity” and is due to meet him in the coming days (Le Monde). Emmanuel Macron expressed his “solidarity” (Le Monde). Germany is keeping its sanctions on Russia (Reuters), and the European Union considers that lifting them on diesel gives Moscow “the means to wage war” (Le Monde). Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, points out that the choice of leader belongs to Ukrainians. At dawn on Sunday, Trump said that Putin “would like to see a settlement” (Le Figaro) and that Ukraine must hold an election (FinancialJuice), while American, Ukrainian and European negotiators held talks in Miami, exchanges that envoy Steve Witkoff calls “constructive” (Le Monde, Reuters). Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could travel to Moscow within two weeks, according to the Russian agency TASS as cited by FinancialJuice: a single outlet. The effect on prices remains uncertain: Bloomberg Economics estimates that the November cargo equals about one day of U.S. consumption. On Wall Street on Friday, the S&P 500 gained 0.59% to 7,811.54 points, the Nasdaq 0.64% to 27,366.17 and the Dow Jones 0.83% to 51,654.95. The ten-year yield stood at 5.244%. WTI gained 0.39%, to $91.85, and gold 1.43%, to $4,216.3. The CAC 40 had closed at 7,803.33 points (+0.95%).