Zelenskyy also shared Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's criticism on Wednesday that the US-Russia diesel agreement is a "very risky" decision that risks "legitimizing Moscow while its bombs continue to fall on Ukrainian cities, financing its war, and weakening sanctions." Meanwhile, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the fuel deal opens the way for broader US-Russia economic cooperation and new joint projects, with Russian officials expecting the first diesel contracts with the US to be finalized within days and exports to potentially reach 3 million to 3.5 million metric tons a month by year end.
Under the Oct. 9 agreement backed by a US Treasury license valid through April 7, 2027, Trump said Russia would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons thereafter and up to 3 million tons later depending on refinery conditions. Analysts say the 500,000 ton November tranche equals about 125,000 BPD, a fraction of normal Russian exports after Ukrainian drone strikes averaging four plants a week cut Russian refining throughput by a third to half since May.