WASHINGTON — President Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine have reached an energy cease-fire days after he roiled Kyiv by unveiling a diesel purchasing deal with Moscow.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Kyiv had been carrying out strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, particularly refineries, in retaliation for similar attacks the Kremlin has carried out in Ukraine. The Trump administration has blamed Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries for causing diesel prices to spike.
High diesel prices, which are currently sitting at $6.28 a gallon nationally, according to data from the American Automobile Association, have created midterm headaches for Trump.
Although the US cut off imports from Russia, Energy Secretary Chris Wright has claimed that the Ukrainian attacks against Moscow’s refineries have impacted the global supply of diesel and therefore impacted prices in America.
On Friday, following his call with Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, Trump announced that the US planned to purchase massive amounts of diesel, including 300,000 tons immediately, 500,000 tons in November, and 1,000,000 tons afterward.
The move drew outrage from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who blasted it as a “betrayal” and sparked bipartisan backlash as well.
Some critics argued that Trump can’t legally purchase diesel from Russia without congressional approval due to the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022.
