[Anchor]

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the U.S. will receive a massive supply of diesel from Russia. The move is aimed at tackling soaring diesel prices ahead of the midterm elections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed back, calling it "a gift to Putin."

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the details.

[Reporter]

Following a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement regarding a deal for Russian diesel supplies.

The agreement stipulates that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November, and an additional 1 million tons thereafter.

Including a plan to supply an extra 3 million tons depending on the situation in Russia, the total volume exceeds 4.8 million tons.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: Frankly, I want to thank President Putin. A massive amount of diesel that we wanted is coming into the United States. Thank you.]

The decision is intended to lower soaring fuel costs ahead of the midterm elections in November, which ultimately forces the U.S. to take a step back from its sanctions targeting Russia.

U.S. online media outlet Axios reported that President Trump made the deal after his repeated demands for Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries were rejected.

Ukraine immediately pushed back, calling the agreement a gift to Putin.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Ukrainian President: It is merely a step that empowers Putin and allows him to wage the war even more fiercely.]

The actual price-cutting effect remains uncertain.

Analysts point out that the initial supply of 800,000 tons scheduled through November is equivalent to about a day and a half of U.S. diesel demand, meaning its impact on prices will be minimal.

Another variable is whether Russia, which is experiencing an energy crunch due to Ukrainian attacks on its refineries, will be able to deliver the promised volume on time.

On the other hand, critics note that Russia will secure funds for the war and create fractures in Western solidarity on sanctions against Russia, handing Putin yet another "strategic victory" as Trump scrambles to secure political achievements for the midterm elections.

(Video Editing: Kim Byung-jik, Design: Kim Han-gil)