Trump defends a deal to let Russian diesel flow, as lawmakers from both parties push back
President Trump defended a US deal to allow Russian diesel exports after criticism from lawmakers of both parties (Reuters, CNBC, Quartz). Reuters, citing sources, reported that US envoys told Ukrainian officials the deal is meant to soften Moscow and draw it back to peace talks. Russia says it may export up to 3.5 million tonnes of diesel a month by the end of the year (Reuters), though Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian strikes have cut refinery output. On Tuesday Trump said US intelligence is still being shared with Ukraine and that the diesel will be released to the world, not kept for the US (Reuters, FinancialJuice). Republican senators urged him to back out (FinancialJuice).
Diesel sets the cost of moving goods, and the plan ties a supply deal to a peace push that Kyiv and many Republicans distrust.
More Russian diesel on world markets could ease pump prices over time, but analysts quoted by Newsweek doubt it will help US prices before the midterms, and diesel prices here follow world markets.
Washington argues that easing diesel supply is a lever to bring Russia to negotiate.
Critics say it rewards Moscow, and the Kremlin called European criticism cynical because EU states buy Russian oil.
A deal on supply is not a deal on peace. Watch whether Moscow gives anything back, and how many Republican senators join the pushback.
DailyDrop New Zealand edition No. 10 · Morning · WED., OCT. 14, 2026