▲ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly criticized the diesel trade agreement between the United States and Russia, calling it an "investment in war" that paves the way for prolonging the conflict.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 9th local time that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply large-scale Russian diesel to the U.S. and global markets.
In response, Zelenskyy posted on social media, emphasizing, "A gift to Putin will neither bring peace nor benefit the civilized world in any way. Russia will repay this diesel deal with more acts of terror and betrayal."
He further argued, "Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is equivalent to investing in prolonging a war that must be ended."
In an interview with the U.S. online media outlet Axios that day, Zelenskyy also criticized the deal, stating, "It is neither fair nor honest," and adding, "It feels like a birthday greeting gift for Putin."
President Putin recently celebrated his 74th birthday.
In particular, Zelenskyy emphasized that during discussions on the terms of ending the war with the U.S. delegation a few days prior, the U.S. side never once mentioned the possibility of a diesel deal with Russia.
Axios noted that the decision by the U.S. and Russia on this diesel trade has shocked Ukraine and various European nations, while sparking new tensions between the U.S. and its Western allies.
Following the announcement of the deal, the British government issued a stance that it will continue its support for Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia.
According to Reuters, a British government spokesperson stated that day, "We will continue to work closely with international partners to ensure Ukraine receives the military and financial support it needs to defend itself."
The spokesperson added, "We will maintain pressure on Russia through the strongest sanctions regime that the UK has ever imposed."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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