Trump Buys Russian Diesel as Strikes Hit Zaporizhzhia

President Donald Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase millions of tons of Russian diesel, reversing years of Western sanctions. The agreement begins with an immediate supply of 300,000 tons, scaling up to three million tons. Trump stated the move aims to lower fuel prices for Americans following price spikes caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the agreement as an investment in the Russian war effort, claiming Ukrainian negotiators were used as a smokescreen while the deal was struck. The announcement coincided with a Russian guided aerial bomb strike on a five-story residential building in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. While initial reports cited seven deaths, updated figures indicate at least 15 people were killed, including three children.

Military escalations continued as Ukraine's Air Force intercepted 117 of 160 Russian drones, while Russia claimed to have destroyed 560 Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian strikes in Russia's Rostov region injured six people. Diplomatically, U.S., Ukrainian, and European negotiators concluded six hours of talks in Miami to develop a peace proposal, though Vladimir Putin indicated that an immediate resumption of peace talks is unlikely.