Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns on Sunday regarding President Donald Trump’s recent diesel agreement with Russia, labeling it “very dangerous.”
During an NBC News interview, host Welker inquired about the potential consequences of Trump lifting sanctions on Russia, asking, “What’s the impact?”
Zelenskyy responded by highlighting the ramifications for Ukraine, stating that it could “strengthen Putin’s war against us because he feels success.” He pointed out that, despite the perception of victory, Putin has not achieved significant milestones on the battlefield, particularly in 2026. He characterized Trump’s sanction rollback as “really big support for Putin.”
Zelenskyy also mentioned that the diesel agreement would not significantly impact U.S. prices, associating it instead with issues surrounding the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. “We’re afraid that discussions about Russian gas and frozen assets will be overshadowed,” he said, reiterating his view that the deal poses serious risks.
However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later countered Zelenskyy’s comments, asserting that “no sanctions were lifted on Friday.” He clarified that only the embargo on Russian diesel was removed.
Bessent also remarked that Zelenskyy does not direct criticism towards European partners, noting that “the Europeans are financing the Russian war machine.”
The executive order that Trump signed on Friday lifted certain sanctions and tariffs mandated by the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he had enacted on September 18.
This law, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, requires imposing tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, and up to 500% on Russian imports. The Senate had passed the measure with an 86-11 vote on August 7, followed by the House’s approval on September 16 with a vote of 262-159.
