Zelenskyy takes swipe at US-Russia diesel deal: ‘Peace never comes through weakness’

President Donald Trump made a diesel deal with Russia, making the country agree to release millions of tons of diesel fuel to the United States and global markets to help ease the energy crunch and lower fuel prices ahead of midterm elections.

Trump said Putin had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately "to the American and global marketplace" followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another million after that.

But the US-Russia deal drew a fierce reaction from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky who not only condemned Washington’s concessions given to Moscow but also questioned the intentions of bringing peace to the years-long conflict.

Taking to X, Zelensky issued a stark warning that such kind of concessions would give the Kremlin more money to fund war machines and undermine peace efforts.

He wrote, “Peace never comes through weakness. Today, representatives of the U.S. Congress were in Kyiv – a bipartisan delegation – and I am grateful to them for visiting Ukraine at such a difficult time. They asked: what is needed to end the war? The answer must be strong… And today, there was a conversation between the leaders of America and Russia. A conversation that leads to something different.”

According to the president, gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefits to the civilized world.

“Russia will ‘repay’ the diesel with further terror and perfidy. Allowing Russia to sell petroleum products is an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged.”

According to Zelenskyy, what is needed is real de-escalation with Russia on a reciprocal basis.

He concluded the lengthy post with a hope of America’s fair support for Ukraine’s defence of life and for the defence of our people, while urging the Trump administration to have a “strong conversation with Russia, not a weak one.”

The announcement of the deal with Russia comes as the Ukrainian and European officials were in Florida to have talks with Trump envoys to discuss new peace proposals directed at resolving conflicts.