Axios: Trump has struck diesel deal with Putin because of Ukraine's refusal to halt refinery strikes

US President Donald Trump has decided to strike a deal with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel fuel to the United States because Ukraine refused to unilaterally halt its attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Source: Axios, citing a senior US official familiar with the situation

Details: According to the official, Trump's decision came after Zelenskyy ignored half a dozen requests to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Quote: "Zelenskyy told Trump and his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that he was prepared to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if the Russians halted attacks on Ukrainian power plants.

The US official said Trump wanted Ukraine to unilaterally stop attacking Russian refineries because the strikes were contributing to high gas prices in America.

Trump didn't see the attacks on refineries as equivalent to Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid, the US official said."

Details: The official added that "the attacks on the refineries cause pain in Russia, but it causes pain for the US, too".

"Zelenskyy is misreading the room. By continuing to hit refineries, he is eroding the good will that he has built with Trump over the last six months," the official said.

According to Axios, during eight hours of talks in Miami, Trump's envoys told the Ukrainian delegation that the president would speak to Putin and lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports.

A Ukrainian official told Axios that Witkoff and Kushner had threatened to cut Ukraine off from US intelligence if it continued the strikes. The US official denied that any such threats had been made and said the US was a reliable partner that provided ammunition and intelligence.

In addition, Witkoff and Kushner briefed the Ukrainian delegation and European representatives on potential energy deals with Russia which the US hopes will encourage Moscow to make concessions in peace negotiations.

"Putin is hitting [Ukraine] hard but we think he is open to a discussion on ending the war. We want to work on a new proposal that will be good enough for him in order to get him to stop," the US official said.

Background:

• In September and October, Trump repeatedly urged Zelenskyy to scale back attacks on Russian oil refineries, linking the strikes to fuel shortages and rising prices in the US.
• On 8 October, Zelenskyy announced that talks would take place in the US involving a Ukrainian delegation. This delegation included Davyd Arakhamiia, leader of the Servant of the People party; Rustem Umierov, Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service; Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; and Serhii Kyslytsia, First Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
• Ahead of the meeting, Axios reported, citing US and Ukrainian officials, that US President's Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were planning to present "new ideas and proposals" in Miami to break the diplomatic deadlock.
• On 9 October, US President Donald Trump said he had had a "highly successful discussion" with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and reached an agreement on lifting sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.
• Zelenskyy strongly criticised Trump's actions, describing the easing of sanctions as an "absolutely terrible" move. He stressed that this "happy birthday present for Putin" will provide Russia with billions more to continue the war
• Zelenskyy said Ukraine's negotiating team in the US was being used as "cover" while Trump and Putin reached agreements on fuel supplies.
• Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Vladimir Putin, said that the Russian leader had rejected the prospect of peace talks and stressed that Russia will continue fighting until it has achieved "all its objectives" during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

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