Zelenskyy: Ukrainian negotiating team used as "cover" amid Trump-Putin deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine's negotiating team in the US is being used as "cover" while US President Donald Trump reaches agreements with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on fuel supplies.
Source: Zelenskyy's comments to journalists
Quote: "I believe our team is simply being used as cover. This is certainly not fair and not how partners should treat each other. In my view, unfortunately, it is a weak decision by strong partners."
Details: Zelenskyy added that such agreements will provide Putin with additional funding for the war.
Quote: "This gives Putin more resources and enables him to wage war even more aggressively. And at precisely the moment when we are talking about peace, America is allowing Russia to export diesel. We are talking about millions, billions [of dollars]. In any case, all this money goes towards the war."
Background:
- On 9 October, Trump said he had spoken to Putin and agreed on supplies of diesel fuel from Russia.
- Zelenskyy said that allowing Russia to sell petroleum products to the US and other countries amounts to an investment in the war.
- The US Department of the Treasury, through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), issued General Licence No. 135, authorising transactions involving the sale, delivery, unloading and import of Russian-origin diesel fuel.
- Following his conversation with Trump, Putin confirmed that Russia is ready to supply petroleum products to the US and global markets. He also expressed hope for continued cooperation between the two countries.
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