Zelenskyy: Russia will "repay" diesel concessions with "further terror and perfidy"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products to the US and other countries amounts to an investment in the war.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness. It plays into Russia's hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world."

Details: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is ready to take reciprocal de-escalation steps and that the US team is aware of this position.

He said Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and other oil facilities are a response to Russia's years-long campaign of terror against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Quote: "Ukraine will not set Russian oil refineries on fire if Russia does not destroy our energy infrastructure. This is the kind of agreement we are proposing to America, and we believe the United States has enough power to achieve such a compromise.

Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world. Russia will 'repay' the diesel with further terror and perfidy. Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged. What is needed is real de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis."

Details: Zelenskyy also said that Russia is resorting to terror to compensate for its inability to achieve its stated objectives on the battlefield.

Quote: "This year, Russia is weaker on the battlefield than at any other point in the war. That is why Putin is relying on terror. That is why he is relying on attempts to strike backroom deals to secure some form of pressure relief for Russia, in order to buy more time and more opportunities for war."

Background:

• On 6 October, Trump said he had a phone call planned with Putin to discuss a possible outbreak of plague at a research institute in Siberia. Trump did not mention plague in his Truth Social post about the conversation with Putin.
• Trump has repeatedly blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for rising fuel prices.
• In late September, Trump said he had asked Zelenskyy to scale back strikes on Russian oil refineries.

• On 9 October, Trump said he had spoken to Putin and agreed on supplies of diesel fuel from Russia.

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