by Ilya Maximov
[Regnum] Donald Trump's decision to enter into a deal to supply Russian diesel fuel to the American and global markets sparked a new rift between Washington and Brussels. EU leaders, one after another, called the agreement a mistake, but the US government not only refused to back down but even counterattacked.
The agreement, announced by the US President on October 9 after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, provides for the immediate delivery of 300,000 tons of fuel from Russia to the American and global markets, with subsequent increases in volumes.
The White House explained this decision by the need to bring down record fuel prices, which had soared in the wake of the US war with Iran: by mid-October, diesel fuel cost an average of $6.33 per gallon nationwide, having soared more than one and a half times compared to the pre-war period.
Europe's reaction was virtually unanimous. The European Council condemned Washington's decision : "The European Council regrets the decision of the United States to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel fuel."
There was also criticism from some European leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the agreement "a very risky choice." "The outcome of this decision is questionable, the risks are obvious," she noted.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the deal was harmful. "For Germany and Europe, such a solution is out of the question," he declared, adding that restrictions should have been tightened, not relaxed.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the agreement "inappropriate and ineffective" and warned that it "sends a negative signal," while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the US decision was "a move in the wrong direction."
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš went further than anyone else, directly accusing the American leader of betrayal: “By making this deal with Putin, Trump has essentially betrayed us.”
The United States' response to these rebukes was immediate. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent led the counteroffensive.
In an interview with Fox News, he stated that EU countries have paid Russia more than they provided to Ukraine since 2022, and this is precisely what deprives them of the moral right to criticize Washington.
"Since the beginning of this conflict, the Europeans have given the Russians more money than the Ukrainians because they cannot give up Russian energy resources... Therefore, their words about us not being able to afford a break in diesel prices are completely hypocritical," the head of the US Treasury Department said.
He also recalled that the UK had already lifted its embargo on fuel made from Russian crude back in May. "And, you know, I'll note that in May, the UK lifted its embargo on diesel and aviation fuel produced from Russian oil. Where's the outrage from the rest of the world?" the minister asked.
Later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also came under fire, accusing the White House of slowing down Starlink for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the face of the agreement with Russia. "I think it's very reckless of President Zelenskyy to make that accusation," Bessent told NBC News.
To be fair, there were also those in Europe who approved of the deal, such as Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who recalled that the European Union is experiencing considerable problems of its own and therefore "appreciates any steps to reduce fuel prices and ensure our competitiveness."
His position underlines that the split on this issue is not only between the United States and the EU, but also within the European Union itself.
However, the diesel was just the beginning. A week after the deal was signed, Trump went even further, suspending the massive "hellish sanctions" package against Russia that he himself had signed a month earlier.
After this, the US itself erupted. Among both Republicans and Democrats, many had invested substantial political (and sometimes other) capital in supporting the Kyiv regime and now risked missing out on the expected dividends. The American oil lobby, which benefits from high prices, naturally plays a role.
A bipartisan group of senators, including Republican Mitch McConnell, called the agreements with Russia "a betrayal of our allies." His fellow Senator Ted Cruz called the sanctions suspension "a mistake," though he acknowledged concerns about fuel prices.
Democrats, who never miss an opportunity to criticize the current head of state, also weighed in. Democratic Congressman Don Beyer described the administration's actions as "Trump's capitulation" and "a betrayal of our Ukrainian partners."
Senator Richard Blumenthal said that "these exceptions have nothing to do with our national security and everything to do with sycophancy" to Russia.
Perhaps the funniest comment came from Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who called the decision "grossly irresponsible" and asked, "What part of the law, passed by the Senate by a vote of 86 to 11, do the president and his advisers not understand? "
The fact is that Trump was able to suspend the restrictions precisely because he and his team carefully reviewed the document. Section 115 of the Lindsey Graham Act * expressly authorizes the president to "waive the application of any sanctions provision" provided Congress is satisfied that doing so is in the national interest of the United States.
The administration has previously attempted various methods to influence prices, from releasing additional fuel volumes to pressuring European allies to use their own strategic reserves. None of these measures had a significant impact, and under these circumstances, any new source of diesel fuel is essential.
In fact, Congress, by passing the law with an overwhelming majority, itself delegated to the president the right to ignore this majority if he considers that this is necessary in the interests of the country.
The head of state invoked this very provision amid the diesel crisis. "I hereby waive the sanctions, restrictions, and obligations provided for in Section 102(d) of the Graham Act*. I have certified to Congress that granting such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States, and I have submitted a report justifying this certification in accordance with Section 115(b) of the Graham Act," the US president's executive order states.
Therefore, Republican Senator Don Cornyn's statement that "Lindsay* would be shocked" by the White House's decision is hardly appropriate. There is every reason to suspect that the author himself was far more familiar with the text of his own bill than those who subsequently voted for it.
So, the "minus" under the "hellish sanctions" was planted by their own authors, and it's unlikely that congressmen and senators will be able to blame Trump for his ability to exploit the provisions of the adopted law. Meanwhile, he himself responded very calmly to the criticism, reminding everyone that the caravan moves on regardless of the barking.
"My decision regarding Russia is quite simple. I am currently negotiating peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and do not want to do anything that might foolishly push Russia away from the negotiating table," he wrote on his Truth Social page.
By their willingness to accommodate, Trump and his team have truly demonstrated that they are serious about a peaceful settlement in Ukraine and normalizing relations with our country—unlike a number of European and American politicians who declare a desire for peace, but in reality do everything they can to ensure the conflict continues for their own financial and political gain.