US envoys say "diesel deal" is attempt to coax Russia into negotiations – Reuters

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, envoys of the US president, have informed the Ukrainian delegation at negotiations in Miami on 9 October that the agreement permitting the export of Russian diesel fuel is part of an effort to bring Russia back to the negotiating table.

Source: Reuters, quoting its sources, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from a source: "The idea was that the US could go back to Russia and say 'See, the Ukrainians stopped striking and we gave you ​this deal. Now it's your turn to do something.'"

Details: Reuters' sources said that Witkoff and Kushner informed the Ukrainians during the Miami meeting that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not currently prepared to negotiate on ending the war.

Therefore, according to the special envoys, the diesel deal announced last week could help restart trilateral talks.

Another source said that the US assured the Ukrainian side that the diesel fuel agreement might help "soften" Moscow's stance, in part because it "sends a signal" regarding US President Donald Trump's willingness to cooperate with Russia.

During the Miami meeting, Kushner reportedly brought up Trump's request for Ukraine to cease strikes against Russian oil refineries once again.

One source familiar with the course of the meeting noted that the diesel fuel deal is merely one component of a broader discussion on how to bring Ukraine and Russia back to the table and bring an end to the war.

According to this Reuters source, security guarantees for Ukraine were also discussed during the meeting, though no further details were provided.

However, Ukrainian officials who participated in the Miami talks remained sceptical of this American approach.

Meanwhile, Kushner and Witkoff emphasised "all that the ​US has done for Ukraine", including military and intelligence support provided to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Nevertheless, the Americans did not threaten to cut off support if the Ukrainians refused to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, according to three sources, one of whom was present at the meeting.

Background:

• On 9 October, Trump said he had spoken to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reached an agreement with him on supplying Russian diesel fuel to the US and global markets.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticised Trump's actions, describing the easing of sanctions as an "absolutely terrible" move.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!