Ukraine disappointed by Trump’s announcement: "Smokescreen"

 

Martin Mederyd Hårdh/TT

 

Published 06:02 | Updated 09:07

         

        Donald Trump, pictured here at a campaign rally in New York state on Friday. Photo: Julia Demaree          Nikhinson/AP/TT

Negotiators from Ukraine traveled to the US to meet with President Trump’s negotiators. Meanwhile, Trump struck a new "deal" with Vladimir Putin.

With the US conflict with Iran causing oil prices to skyrocket, Russia is gaining new opportunities to replenish its dwindling war chest. The Ukrainians feel exploited.

A Ukrainian delegation met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Florida on Friday. The US side described the meeting as productive, noting that they identified several issues "ahead of the US's next meeting with Russia."

Prior to the meeting, Ukraine had urged the US to stop benefiting Russia economically, arguing that this would make Moscow more inclined to end the war of invasion. While the meeting in Florida was taking place, President Donald Trump announced a new deal with Vladimir Putin to bring Russian fuel to the market.

"I believe our delegation is merely being used as a smokescreen. And that is certainly not fair," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement issued via the Ukrainian embassy in the US.

Relatively small share

"I want to thank President Putin," said Donald Trump after announcing the agreement, which effectively grants exemptions from sanctions on Russian diesel for the next six months. Trump describes the situation as "enormous amounts of oil" heading to the US, but the quantity he cites is very small in context.

Russia is reportedly making "300,000 tons" of diesel available as a first step, which equates to just over two million barrels. That is roughly the amount consumed in the US in half a day. Globally, about 30 million barrels of diesel are consumed daily.

Furthermore, Russia is also facing shortages. Due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, a ban on diesel exports has been in place for some time.

The US war against Iran has had massive consequences for the global fuel market, as Iran—in a countermove—is choking off the major flow of oil from the Persian Gulf.

Donald Trump has appealed to Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil facilities, with an eye on US gasoline prices ahead of the autumn midterm elections. However, the attacks have continued, and a source tells Axios that this is why Trump decided to accommodate Putin.

"Cleaning up his own mess"

Trump’s agreement with Putin is sparking an outcry in the US Congress as well. The President signed a new, sweeping sanctions package against Russia just three weeks ago, after it had passed Congress with overwhelming support.

Leading Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee believe the President is betraying Ukraine and US allies in an attempt to clean up a mess he created himself by starting a war with Iran.

Attacks on Russia’s oil sector have continued over the past week. Overnight into Saturday, an oil terminal in Rostov was reportedly set ablaze in a drone strike.