US and Russia Strike Diesel Deal, Trump Calls for Ukraine to Replace Zelenskyy

President Trump said he struck a deal with Russia to supply up to 4.8 million tons of diesel "​​to the American and Global Marketplace" and has also called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced.

Diesel Deal: Putin and Trump had a 90-minute phone conversation on Friday where they discussed a range of topics, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, First Lady Melania Trump's humanitarian efforts, and Russian hockey great Alexander Ovechkin. Amid record-high diesel prices globally, the two emerged with a deal in which the US will lift its sanctions, and Russia will immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 more in November and another million after that. Trump suggested that, depending on the condition of Russia's refineries – which Ukraine has been bombing recently – Russia could release another 3 million tons. Axios (Lean Left) reported on Friday that a "US official" said Trump agreed to the deal after Zelenskyy ignored six requests to stop bombing Russian refineries. On Sunday, Ukraine said it would stop hitting Russian refineries if Russia stopped hitting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Deal Reactions: Trump touted the deal on Truth Social and said that, in conjunction with the US military's "total control" of the Strait of Hormuz, the deal will cause diesel prices to drop "in record numbers, and fast." Zelenskyy told Axios the deal looks "absolutely terrible" and "​​like a happy birthday present for Putin." The Hill (Center) highlighted pushback from several Republican lawmakers. Associated Press (Lean Left) called the move a "stunning reversal" of US foreign policy. Kremlin-funded RT (Lean Right) said the deal could "potentially [help] alleviate an international fuel shortage."

For Context: According to the US Energy Information Administration, the US uses about 2.94 million barrels, close to 395,000 tons, of diesel per day. Trump announced the deal while his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian, German, French, British, EU, and NATO diplomats in Florida to discuss ending the conflict. The US shares intelligence with Ukraine, and according to The Wall Street Journal (Center), "two people present" at the meeting said no explicit threat was made to stop sharing intel. Last month, Witkoff and Kushner met with officials in both Moscow and Kyiv. 

Zelenskyy: Trump told reporters on Saturday that he thinks "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president."  Zelenskyy has faced calls for elections several times over the past few years, though Ukraine's constitution prohibits them when martial law is declared. Most recently and most prominently, in August, a defense minister he fired called for them. Zelenskyy has rejected the idea as dangerous for his country right now.

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