Trump Lifts Russian Diesel Sanctions Amid Ukraine Leadership Dispute

President Donald Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9, 2026, to import millions of tons of Russian diesel into the U.S. and global markets. To facilitate the deal, the U.S. Treasury Department issued General License 135, temporarily waiving sanctions through April 2027. The phased supply begins with 300,000 tons immediately, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly thereafter, with a potential additional 3 million tons depending on refinery conditions. Trump framed the move as a priority to lower fuel costs for farmers and truckers ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, citing price spikes caused by a war with Iran and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.

The decision triggered a severe diplomatic rift. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deal as a "gift to Putin" and a "weak decision," arguing it finances Russia's war effort. In response, Trump publicly called for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy with a leader capable of making a deal and threatened to halt intelligence sharing and weapons procurement if Kyiv continued attacking Russian refineries. While Trump later claimed an "energy ceasefire" was effective immediately, Zelenskyy reported continued Russian strikes on power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv, stating the announcement was "news to me."

Domestically, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators challenged the deal's legality, asserting it violates a 2022 ban on Russian energy imports. European allies, including Germany and France, expressed skepticism and reaffirmed their commitment to sanctions. Meanwhile, geopolitical instability persisted as Houthi rebels launched deadly missile attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, prompting Trump to consider joining Saudi retaliatory strikes.