US Opens Door to Russian Diesel – Zelenskyy: A Gift to Putin

WASHINGTON/KYIV, October 10, 2026 – The US administration under President Donald Trump has opened the way for the sale, transport and import of Russian diesel into the United States. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who says it gives President Vladimir Putin fresh money to wage war.

The authorization, General License 135, was issued Friday by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the Treasury Department. It is valid until April 7, 2027. The document names no buyers, prices or delivery volumes, and it sets no requirement that Russia halt hostilities or its attacks on Ukraine’s energy supply.

“Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or benefit the civilized world,” Zelenskyy wrote on his official channel.

Backdrop: The Attack on Pryluky

The decision came just two days after a Russian missile strike killed 22 people, including five children, in the Ukrainian city of Pryluky. According to Ukraine’s presidential office, 17 people were hospitalized. The day before the US decision, Zelenskyy visited the hospital together with the UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. There they met, among others, a five-year-old girl and a war veteran who had lost both his family and his home.

Sanctions Meant to Hit the War Chest

On March 8, 2022, shortly after the invasion, the US banned imports of Russian oil and petroleum products. The aim was to hit one of Russia’s most important sources of income, which helps fund soldiers, weapons and military production. According to the US Treasury Department, the sanctions were also meant to prevent energy prices from rising uncontrollably. The US and the G7 countries also introduced a price cap on Russian oil and refined products.

Diesel Prices as Domestic Politics

Trump has made high diesel prices a domestic political issue. In a presidential order on October 5, he pointed to limited supply having driven prices up, particularly for American farmers and truck drivers. He instructed the Treasury Department to examine temporary tax relief. The order gives no explicit justification for the Russia authorization, but it shows how highly the administration prioritizes lower fuel costs.

Increased access to Russian diesel could push prices down if large volumes reach the market. The effect depends on volumes, prices and the broader supply situation. For Russia, the trade means higher export revenue and, in turn, increased tax revenue for the state. That does not mean every dollar goes directly to the war, but the money feeds into an economy where military spending is a top priority.

After a phone call with Trump on October 9, Putin confirmed, according to the Kremlin, that Russia is ready to supply oil and petroleum products to both the US and the world market. The Kremlin gave no specific volumes or delivery plans.

Zelenskyy’s Offer: An Energy Ceasefire

Zelenskyy says Ukraine is willing to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Russia stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to him, the US administration is already aware of the proposal. Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian power plants, substations and power grids. With winter approaching, this could have serious consequences for millions of people who depend on electricity for heating, water supply, hospitals and communications.

Neither the US authorization nor the Kremlin’s statement on the call with Trump mentions such a deal.

Finland Drawn In

On Saturday, Zelenskyy raised the matter with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. According to Ukraine’s presidential office, they discussed the risk that increased Russian oil revenues could fund further warfare, as well as coordination of diplomatic measures. Zelenskyy thanked Finland for its support for Ukraine’s air defense and briefed on new Russian attacks.

Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, has made support for Ukraine and European security central to its foreign policy.

The crux of the dispute is what the two presidents are asking of Putin. Zelenskyy is offering a mutual halt to attacks on energy facilities. The Trump administration has already opened the door to Russian diesel trade without making such a halt a condition.