President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed signing a “diesel agreement” between Kiev and the US President, Donald Trump, arguing that Ukraine – not Moscow – can contribute to determining whether Russian refineries are operational and if fuel deliveries are leaving the country, reports Kyiv Post.
During a video conference intervention at the Warsaw Security Forum, on Monday, October 12, Zelenski questioned the economic justification invoked for Washington’s decision to allow Russian diesel access to American and global markets.
“If such agreements exist, then why doesn’t the United States conclude a ‘diesel agreement’ with Ukraine?“, declared the leader from Kiev in a statement later published on his Telegram channel. “Let Ukraine offer a ‘diesel agreement’. We are the ones who decide whether these ships will sail or not, whether these refineries will operate or not“.
On Friday, Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin that allows diesel exports from Russia, despite Western sanctions imposed as a result of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Zelenski stated that Ukraine would suspend attacks against Russia’s oil and diesel infrastructure if Washington could guarantee that Moscow would cease attacking Ukraine’s power grid.
“Electric power is important to us,” he said. “If we are guaranteed the protection of our electrical network, we will not take measures against the Russian diesel infrastructure.”
Ukraine’s power grid is connected to the European network, emphasized Zelenski, which means that an intact Ukrainian energy system could also provide cheaper electricity to European countries facing shortages.
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