The Russian diesel deal and prices
So why diesel? For weeks, Trump has been pressing Ukraine to stop attacking Russia's energy facilities. Then on Friday, he announced a deal with Russian President Putin to buy Russian diesel. According to Trump, Russia will send more than 300,000 tons straight away, followed by much larger deliveries over the coming months. The goal is to bring fuel prices down before the American midterm elections.Yet there is another major reason prices are so high. The US led war in Iran, which has made it harder to get oil out of the Middle East and pushed up energy costs worldwide. A recent poll found that Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of Iran and blame him for higher prices.Deadly strikes and Ukrainian reaction
Trump's remarks came on a deadly day in Ukraine. Russian bombs struck apartment buildings in the Zaporizhia region, killing at least 20 people, three of them children. Zelensky responded bitterly, writing that Russia had shown its gratitude for the easing of sanctions by bombing people's homes. He warned that every extra billion dollars Russia earns from exports will help pay for drones, missiles, and fighters.European dismay and wider implications
Ukraine's European allies were also dismayed. Sweden's prime minister said energy income is central to funding Russia's war, and Germany insisted it remains committed to sanctions. Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski went further, asking whether Russia could even supply the diesel, since Ukrainian strikes have reportedly damaged about half of its refining capacity.The deal matters because it could put more money into Russia's war effort, while talks on ending the fighting are still underway. It also leaves Washington at odds with Ukraine's closest partners in Europe.